B6K*  k ^ ; 

BRIEF  HISTORY  ^V.  ,,,, 


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lr,-yi 

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OF  THE 


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V ^v, 

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BDEMAN  MISSION. 


In  the  deserts  let  me  labor. 

On  the  mountains  let  me  tell 
How  he  died — the  blessed  Saviour- 
To  redeem  a world  from  hell ! 

Let  me  hasten 

Far  in  heathen  lands  to  dwell. 


* PHILADELPHIA: 

PUBLISHED  BY  THE 

BAPTIST  GENERAL  TRACT  SOCIETY, 

ASH  SOLD  AT  THEIR  DEPOSITORY,  NO.  21  SOUTH  FOURTH  STREET,  AND 
BY  AGENTS  OF  THE  SOCIETY,  AND  ITS  BRANCHES,  IS 
THE  PRINCIPAL  CITIES  AND  TOWN'S 
1N,THE  UNITED  STATES. 


APPEAL  FROM -THE  MISSIONARIES. IN  BURMAH. 


It  is  with  no  common  emotions  that  we  present  the  following  ap- 
peal to  the  churches,  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Judson.  It  has  touched 
our  hearts.  It  cannot — it  must  nut  be  in  vain.  O brethren,  if  we 
have  cars,  we  must  hear.  If  we  have  eyes,  they  must  weep. 
If  we  have  hearts,  they  must  feel.  If  we  have  decision,  we  must 
resolve.  Ye  redeemed  by  the  blood  of  Christ,  listen— and  act.  Ye 
ministers,  kindle  up  and  cherish  the  missionary  flame  in  the  souls 
committed  to  your  charge.  Ye  young  men,  tell  us,  tell  your  own 
consciences,  tell  that  Saviour  whose  service  you  have  chosen,  why 
this  appeal  should  not  find  a response  in  your  hearts  and  on  your 
tongues.  How  can  the  perishing  heathen  believe  in  him  of  whonv 
they  have  not  heard?  and  how  can  they  hear  without  a preacher? 
and  how  can  they  preach,  except  they  go  1 — Am.  Bap .■  Magazine. 

Mauxmein,  Jane  4th,  1832. 

Respected  Fathers  and  Brethren : We  arc  in  distress. 
We  see  thousands  perishing  around  us.  We  see  mission 
stations  opening  on  every  side : the  fields  growing 
whiter  every  day ; and  no  laborers  to  reap  the  harvest. 
We  want  instantly  to  send  aid  to  the  Tavoy  station,  where 
Br.  Mason  is  laboring  almost  alone.  We  want  instantly 
to  send  a missionary  to  Mergui,  a pleasant,  healthful  town, 
south  of  Tavoy,  where  a small  church  has  been  raised  up, 
and  left  in  charge  of  a native  pastor.  Our  hearts  bleed 
when  we  think  of  poor  Mergui  and  the  Karens  in  that 
vicinity,  many  of  whom  are  ready  to  embrace  the  gospel 
and  be  saved.  But  how  can  we  allow  ourselves  to  think 
of  that  small  place,  when  the  whole  kingdom  of  Siam  lies 
in  our  rear,  and  the  city  of  Bankok,  at  once  a port  for 
ships  and  the  seat  of  imperial  government?  We  want  in- 
stantly to  despatch  one  of  our  number  to  Bankok.  One? 
There  ought,  at  this  moment,  to  be  three,  at  least,  on  their 
way  to  that  important  place.  Another  ought  to  be  on  his 
way  to  Yah-heing,  a large  town  east  of  Maul  mein,  fron); 
which  there  is  a fine  river  leading  down  to  Bankok  ; there 
are  many  Karens  at  Yah-heing.  The  Christian  religion 
is  creeping  that  way,  by  means  of  our  Karen  disciples. 
North  of  Yah-heing  and  the  Thoung- yen  river,  the  bound- 
ary of  the  British  territory  on  that  side,  lies  the  king- 
dom or  principality  of  Zen-mai.  Moung  Shway-bwen, 
one  of  our  disciples,  formerly  with  Br.  Boardman  at 
Tavoy,  is  a nephew  of  the  prince,  or  deputy  prince  of 
that  country,  and  is  anxious  to  .return  thither.  But 
how  can  we  send  him,  a very  young  man,  without  a 
missionary?  If  we  .had  a spare  missionary,  what  a fine 
opportunity  for  introducing  the  gospel  into  that  central  tyo 
2 


BRIEF  HISTORY 


OF  THE 

AMERICAN  BAPTIST  MISSION 

IN  BURMAH. 

In  the  month  of  February,  1812,  five  young  men, 
who  had  formerly  been  fellow-students  at  Andover, 
sailed  from  this  country  to  commence  a foreign  mis- 
sion under  the  patronage  of  the  American  Board  of 
Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions.  It  was  owing 
to  their  urgent  solicitations  and  moving  appeals,  that 
the  churches  were  aroused,  and  this  first  Board  of  Mis- 
sions constituted.  They  sailed  for  Calcutta  with  in- 
structions to  proceed  to  Burmah,  if  it  were  judged 
practicable  to  establish  a mission  there  ; and  as  they 
were  the  earliest  missionaries  from  this  land,  they 
would  of  course  hasten  at  once  to  Serampore,  to  obtain 
the  sympathies  and  advice  of  the  venerable  men  who 
had  so  long  been  laboring  in  the  field.  Mr.  Judson, 
who  was  one  of  the  company,  reflected  during  the 
voyage,  that  the  Serampore  brethren  were  Baptists  ; 
and  supposed  very  naturally,  that  he  might  be  called, 
while  sharing  their  hospitalities,  to  defend  the  Pedo- 
baptist  opinions  which  he  professed.  Such  anticipa- 
tions led  him  to  a careful  re-examination  of  the  grounds 
of  his  faith,  and,  eventually,  to  a thorough  change  in  his 
views.  After  a very  serious  and  reluctant  struggle, 
Mrs.  Judson  was  compelled  by  a consciousness  of  right, 
and  the  clear  demonstrations  of  the  New  Testament, 
to  join  her  husband.  Accordingly,  they  were  both  bap- 
tized and  admitted  to  the  church  at  Calcutta,  September 
6th,  1812.  Mr.  Rice  who  had  sailed  in  another  ship 
and  arrived  somewhat  later,  was  the  subject,  without 
the  slighest  concert,  of  a similar  change  of  feelings, 
and  was  baptized  in  November.  This  event  led  natu- 
rally to  a dissolution  of  the  connexion  of  Messrs. 
Judson  and  Rice  with  the  Board  under  whose  patron- 
age they  went  out,  and  threw  them  upon  their  own  re* 

l 


2 


BRIEF  HISTORY  OF  THE 


sources,  or  the  event  of  some  new  arrangements  at 
home.  A spirit  of  opposition  to  their  enterprize, 
which  manifested  itself  at  Calcutta,  and  the  peremp- 
tory refusal  of  the  East  India  Company  to  suffer  their 
continuance  within  their  dominions,  led  the  missiona- 
ries to  embark  for  the  Isle  of  France.  While  at  this 
place,  Messrs.  Judson  and  Rice  thought  it  expedient 
that  the  latter  should  return  at  once  to  this  country, 
and  endeavor  to  awaken  a spirit  of  missions  among 
the  Baptist  churches. 

He  accordingly  sailed  in  March,  1813,  and  was  wel- 
comed on  his  arrival  in  the  United  States,  with  great 
cordiality  and  affection.  He  was  soon  instrumental 
in  awakening  an  extensive  missionary  feeling,  and  a 
large  number  of  missionary  societies  were  originated 
in  various  parts  of  the  country  ; and  in  April,  1814, 
the  Baptist  General  Convention  was  formed  in 
Philadelphia. 

The  will  of  Providence  was,  perhaps,  never  more 
distinctly  intelligible,  than  in  the  circumstances  which 
led  to  the  establishment  of  the  American  Baptist  mis- 
sion in  the  Burman  empire.  Mr.  Judson  received  no 
encouragement  in  respect  to  the  station,  from  his 
friends  at  Serampore.  The  ground  had  already  been 
tried.  But  such  were  the  obstructions, resulting  from 
a barbarous  nation  of  idolaters,  a despotic  government, 
where  change  of  religion  in  a native  would  be  visited 
with  death,  and  a language  of  difficult  acquisition,  that 
all  former  attempts  had  failed.  The  missionaries,  few 
in  number,  who  had  been  deputed  by  the  Serampore 
brethren  to  go  thither,  had  left  in  discouragement,  and 
gone  to  other  fields.  Not  a native  had  listened  to  the 
word  of  eternal  life.  Of  the  good  seed  of  the  king- 
dom, none  had  been  sown.  After  long  deliberation  as  to 
the  course  which  they  should  pursue  in  their  present 
embarrassing  and  unforeseen  condition,  Mi4,  and  Mrs. 
Judson  resolved  to  attempt  a mission  at  Penang  or 
Prince  of  Wales’  Island,  situated  on  the  coast  of  Ma- 
lacca, and  inhabited  by  Malays.  As  no  passage  to 
that  island  could  be  obtained  from  the  Isle  of  France, 
they  sailed  for  Madras  in  May,  1813,  with  the  hope 
«f  obtaining  a passage  thence  to  Penang.  But  here 


BURMAN  MISSION. 


3 


they  were  disappointed.  No  passage  to  that  place 
could  be  procured.  Fearful  that  the  English  govern- 
ment in  Bengal,  would,  on  learning  their  arrival,  send 
them  to  England,  they  resolved,  after  a stay  at  Madras 
of  a few  days,  to  take  passage  in  a vessel  bound  to 
Rangoon.  Thus  by  a wonderful  series  of  providential 
occurences,  they  were  impelled,  contrary  to  their  ex- 
pectations and  plans,  to  the  Burman  empire  ; and, 
amid  hazard  and  discouragement,  Mr.  Judson  resolved, 
in  the  name  of  God,  there  to  set  up  the  Christian 
banner. 

RANGOON. 

Mr.  Judson  arrived  at  Rangoon  in  July,  1813.  On 
his  arrival,  he  found  a mission-house,  occupied  by  the 
family  of  Mr.  Felix  Carey,  which  now  became  his  home. 
Mr.  C.  soon  left  the  station  for  an  office  under  govern- 
ment ; and  thus  the  mission  was  abandoned  into  the 
hands  of  the  American  Baptist  Board. 

In  October,  1816,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hough  joined  the 
mission  family  at  Rangoon,  having  left  the  United 
States  the  preceding  December. 

In  March,  1817,  four  years  after  the  commencement 
of  the  mission,  the  first  inquirer  presented  himself  to 
Mr.  Judson.  His  appearance  and  manners  excited  high 
hopes  ; and,  at  the  close  of  his  first  visit,  the  mission 
family  felt,  that  there  was  reason  to  thank  God  and 
take  courage. 

In  September,  1818,  Messrs.  Colman  and  Wheelock, 
who  had  sailed  from  Boston  in  November,  18 17,  were 
added  to  the  mission  family  at  Rangoon.  Mr.  Judson 
had  already  completed  the  translation  of  the  gospel  by 
Matthew,  and  a zayat  was  built  for  religious  worship, 
where  he  sat  from  day  to  day,  to  converse  with  all  who 
came,  on  the  things  of  the  kingdom.  The  zayat  was 
erected  on  a road,  lined  on  both  sides  with  pagodas  ; 
and  hence  called  Pagoda-Road. 

On  the  27  th  of  June,  1819,  the  first  baptism  occurred 
in  the  Burman  empire.  Moung  Nau,  the  subject  of 
•it,  gave  a most  satisfactory  and  interesting  account 
of  his  mental  exercises,  and  was  admitted,  with  an 
■unspeakably  joyful  welcome,  to  baptism  and  thfe 
church. 


4 


BRIEF  HISTORY  OF  THE 


This  first  baptism  seemed  like  the  first  fruits  of  a 
revival.  The  number  of  inquirers  began  to  multiply, 
and  at  some  meetings,  especially  of  the  females,  the 
Holy  Spirit  was  evidently  present.  On  the  7th  of  No- 
vember following,  two  more  converts  were  baptized. 
Individuals  of  rank  and  eminence  were  becoming 
zealous  inquirers,  and  the  holiest  anticipations  of  the 
missionaries  seemed  on  the  point  of  being  realized. 
But  such  was  their  success,  that  the  fame  of  their 
operations  could  not  be  kept  from  the  ears  of  the  em- 
peror. Fearing  the  worst  temporal  consequences, 
praying  for  divine  guidance,  and  pursuing  what  seem- 
ed to  be  the  only  course  expedient,  Messrs.  Judson 
and  Colman  left  Rangoon  for  Ava,  the  capital  of  the 
country,  to  seek  the  imperial  favor  and  toleration,  and 
safety  for  the  baptized  Burmans.  , Their  petition, 
however,  was  disregarded,  their  hopes  were  blight- 
ed, and  they  returned  to  tell  the  sad  tidings  to  their 
converts.  They  had  previously  arranged  that  Mr. 
Colman  should  go  to  Chittagong,  a place  under 
British  protection,  so  that  in  case  of  the  worst,  all  the 
missionaries  might  find  there  an  asylum  from  perse- 
cution. They  ejxpected,  when  they  disclosed  their  ill 
success  to  the  disciples,  that  they  would  be  filled  with 
apprehensions,  and  perhaps  be  ready  to  renounce  their 
Christian  profession.  But,  on  the  contrary,  they  re- 
mained steadfast  in  the  faith,  and  seemed  willing  that 
the  will  of  the  Lord  should  be  done.  “ Only  stay 
with  us,”  they  exclaimed,  “ till  there  are  ten  con- 
verts ; then  one  can  teach  the  rest ; and  the  emperor 
himself  will  not  be  able  to  destroy  the  new  religion.” 

Mr.  Colman  shortly  after  went  to  Chittagong.  Mr. 
Wheelock,  whose  health  soon  failed,  died  on  his  pas- 
sage to  Bengal,  whither  he  was  going  for  medical  aid. 
Mr.  Hough  was  at  Serampore,  superintending  the 
printing  of  a Burman  tract.  Mrs.  Judson’s.  health 
had  become  so  impaired,  that  a voyage  to  Calcutta  be- 
came indispensable.  And  so  feeble  was  she  before 
the  time  for  her  departure  arrived,  that  Mr.  Judson 
felt  it  necessary  that  he  should  accompany  her.  Thus 
the  station  must  be  left  awhile  without  a missionary 
—the  dependant  sheep,  led  by  no  earthly  shepherd. 


BURMAN  MISSION. 


5 


But  through  the  tender  mercy  of  God,  before  the  ship 
could  get  away,  seven  more  Burmans  gave  satisfacto- 
ry evidence  of  a change  of  heart,  and  applied  for  bap- 
tism. They  were  accepted  by  the  church,  and  added 
to  the  little  band  of  believers  ; so  that  the  proposed 
ten  was  now  filled. 

While  at  Calcutta,  Mrs.  Judson’s  health  gradually 
recovered,  and  she  returned  to  Rangoon  with  her  hus- 
band, in  January,  1821.  Soon  after  their  return, 
another  convert  was  baptized,  Mounglng,  who  is  now 
a native  pastor.  During  the  absence  of  the  mission- 
aries, he  had  been  endeavoring  to  spread  among  his 
friends  the  knowledge  of  a crucified  Saviour. 

In  November,  1821,  Dr.  Price,  with  his  family,  ar- 
rived to  join  the  mission.  Just  as  he  landed,  Mrs.  Jud- 
son,  in  consequence  of  returning  illness,  was  forced  to 
leave  all  the  endearments  of  that  land  of  her  affections, 
and  return  to  America.  She  proceeded  by  the  way  of 
England.  Having  visited  different  sections  of  this 
country,  and  spent  the  winter  at  Baltimore,  where  she 
prepared  for  the  press  a history  of  the  Burman  mission, 
her  health  was  so  far  recovered  that  she  was  able  to  re- 
turn to  Rangoon  the  following  summer.  After  being 
instrumental  in  thus  enlisting  many  affections  in  the 
Burman  mission,  both  at  home  and  in  England,  she 
sailed  again  for  India.  She  was  accompanied  in  her 
return  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wade,  who  were  appointed 
to  join  the  station  at  Rangoon.  They  sailed  from 
Boston  in  June,  and  arrived  at  Calcutta,  October  19th  ; 
soon  after  which  they  sailed  for  their  final  destina- 
tion. 

Ava.  As  the  history  of  the  station  at  Ava  forms  a 
kind  of  episode  in  the  history  of  that  at  Rangoon,  this 
seems  to  be  the  fittest  place  for  its  introduction.  Soon 
after  the  arrival  of  Dr.  Price,  intelligence  of  his  medi- 
cal skill  was  conveyed  to  the  capital.  He  was  imme- 
diately summoned  to  wait  on  the  emperor.  Hoping 
that  a favorable  opportunity  might  now  open  for 
the  introduction  of  the  gospel  into  the  heart  of  the 
realm,  Mr.  Judson  resolved  to  accompany  the  Doctor. 
Government-boats  were  furnished  at  the  public  ex- 
pense, and  they  were  received  with  respect  and  kind- 
le 


6 


BRIEF  HISTORY  OF  THE 


ness.  Upon  their  arrival,  Dr.  Price  was  authorized 
to  build  himself  a house,  where  he  might  live  on  terms 
of  familiarity  with  the  public  officers,  and  in  the  en- 
joyment of  perfect  toleration.  Until  the  country  was 
thrown  into  a state  of  commotion,  he  was  able  indi- 
rectly to  advance  the  objects  of  his  mission.  His  medi- 
cal skill  rendered  him  an  object  of  favor  and  respect, 
and  it  was  fondly  hoped,  that,  in  this  golden*  city,  the 
grand  point  of  attraction  to  the  Burman  empire,  the 
church  of  Christ  was  about  to  be  established  on  a ba- 
sis which  could  not  be  shaken. 

But  events  were  destined  soon  to  occur,  which 
nipped  the  hopes  of  Christians  in  the  bud.  A 
war  between  the  British  and  Burmese  governments 
commenced  about  this  period,  which  rendered  the 
missionaries  objects  of  suspicion  and  ill  will.  Be- 
cause their  language  was  the  same,  and  their  pe- 
cuniary affairs  were  transacted  through  British  agents, 
they  were  imagined  to  be  spies  for  England.  As  the 
armies  of  the  East  India  Company  advanced  from 
town  to  town,  Messrs.  Judson  and  Price  were  seized 
and  imprisoned,  and  treated  with  the  utmost  severity. 
For  a year  and  seven  months,  they  were  held  in  con- 
finement } often  driven  by  savage  persecutors  from 
prison  to  prison  ; immured  in  the  death-prison,  and 
saved  from  a violent  death  only  by  the  interposition 
of  a friendly  Governor,  and  the  constant  intercessions 
of  Mrs.  Judson. 

A few  passages  are  extracted  from  Mrs.  Judson’s 
narrative  of  the  scenes  through  which  the  mission- 
aries passed  during  the  war.f 

“ On  the  8th  of  June,  just  as  we  were  preparing  for 
dinner,  in  rushed  an  officer,  holding  a black  book, 


* When  anything  belonging  to  the  emperor  is  mentioned,  the 
epithet  “ golden”  is  attached  to  it.  When  he  is  said  to  have  heard 
anything,  “ it  has  reached  the  golden  ears a person  admitted  to 
his  presence  “ has  been  at  the  golden  feet the  perfume  of  roses  is 
described  as  grateful  to  “ the  golden  nose.” 

f Fora  detailed  account  of  these  events,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the 
Memoir  of  Mrs.  Judson,  where  will  be  found  an  extended  history  of 
appalling  sufferings,  every  sentence  of  which  possesses  the  most  in- 
tense and  thrilling  interest. 


BURMAN  MISSION. 


7 


witl*-a  dozen  Burmans,  accompanied  by  one,  whom, 
from  his  spotted  face,  we  knew  to  be  an  executioner, 
and  a ‘son  of  the  prison.’  ‘ Where  is  the  teacher?’ 
was  the  first  inquiry.  Mr.  Judson  presented  himself. 

‘ You  are  called  by  the  King,’  said  the  officer  ; a form 
of  speech  always  used  when  about  to  arrest  a crimi- 
nal. The  spotted  man  instantly  seized  Mr.  Judson, 
threw  him  on  the  floor,  and  produced  the  small  cord, 
the  instrument  of  torture.  I caught  hold  of  his  arm  ; 
‘ Stay,  .(said  I,)  I will  give  you  money.  ’ ‘ Take  her 

too,’  said  the  officer  ; ‘ she  also  is  a foreigner.’  Mr. 
Judson,  with  an  imploring  look,  begged  they  would 
let  me  remain  till  further  orders.  The  scene  was  now 
shocking  beyond  description.  The  whole  neighbor- 
hood had  collected — the  little  Burman  children  were 
screaming  and  crying— the  Bengalee  servants  stood 
in  amazement  at  the  indignities  offered  their  master — 
and  the  hardened  executioner,  with  a kind  of  hellish 
joy,  drew  tight  the  cords,  bound  Mr.  Judson  fast,  and 
dragged  him  off  I knew  not  whither.  In  vain  I beg- 
ged and  entreated  the  spotted  face  to  take  the  silver, 
and  loosen  the  ropes  ; hut  he  spurned  my  offers,  and 
immediately  departed.  I gave  the  money,  however, 
to  Moung  Ing  to  follow  after,  and  make  some  further 
attempt  to  mitigate  the  torture  of  Mr.  Judson  ; but  in- 
stead of  relieving  their  prisoner,  when  a few  rods  from 
the  house,  the  unfeeling  wretches  again  threw  him  on 
the  ground,  and  drew  the  cords  still  tighter,  so  as  al- 
most to  prevent  respiration. 

“The  officer  and  his  gang  proceeded  on  to  the 
court-house,  where  the  Governor  of  the  city  and 
officers  were  collected,  one  of  whom  read  the  order  of 
the  King,  to  commit  Mr.  Judson  to  the  death-prison 
into  which  he  was  soon  hurled,  the  door  closed- — 
and  Moung  Ing  saw  no  more.  What  a night  was  now 
before  me!  I retired  into  my  room,  and  endeavored 
to  obtain  consolation  from  committing  my  case  to  God, 
and  imploring  fortitude  and  strength  to  suffer  what- 
ever awaited  me.  But.  the  consolation  of  retirement 
was  not  long  allowed  me,  for  the  magistrate  of  the 
place  had  come  into  the  verandah,  and  continually 
called  me  to  come  out,  and  submit  to  his  examination. 


brief  history  of  the 


I (lid  so,  and  he  inquired  very  minutely  of  everything 
I knew  ; then  ordered  the  gates  of  the  compound  to 
be  shut,  no  person  to  be  allowed  to  go  in  or  out,  placed 
a guard  of  ten  ruffians,  to  whom  he  gave  a strict 
charge  to  keep  me  safe,  and  departed. 

“It  was  now  dark.  I retired  to  an  inner  room 
with  my  four  little  Burman  girls,  and  barred  the  doors. 
The  guard  instantly  ordered  me  to  unbar  the  doors 
and  come  out,  or  they  would  break  the  house  down, 
and  seemed  resolved  to  annoy  me  as  much  as  possi- 
ble. My  unprotected,  desolate  state,  my  entire  un- 
certainty of  the  fate  of  Mr.  Judson,  ana  the  dreadful 
carousings  and  almost  diabolical  language  of  the 
guard,  all  conspired  to  make  it  by  far  the  most  dis- 
tressing night  I had  ever  passed.  You  may  well  im- 
agine, my  dear  brother,  that  sleep  was  a stranger  to 
my  eyes,  and  peace  and  composure  to  my  mind. 

“ The  next  morning,  I sent  Moung  Ing  to  ascertain 
the  situation  of  your  brother,  and  give  him  food,  if 
still  living.  He  soon  returned  with  the  intelligence 
that  Mr.  Judson,  and  all  the  white  foreigners,  were 
confined  in  the  death  prison , with  three  pairs  of  iron 
fetters  each,  and  fastened  to  a long  pole,  to  prevent 
their  moving!  The  point  of  my  anguish  now  was,  that 
I was  a prisoner  myself,  and  could  make  no  efforts 
for  the  release  of  the  missionaries.  I begged  and  en- 
treated the  magistrate  to  allow  me  to  go  to  some  mem- 
ber of  government  to  state  my  case  ; but  he  said  he 
did  not  dare  to  consent,  for  fear  I should  make  my 
escape.  I next  wrote  a note  to  one  of  the  King’s 
sisters,  with  whom  I had  been  intimate,  requesting 
her  to  use  her  influence  for  the  release  of  the  teachers. 
The  note  was  returned  with  this  message— She  ‘did 
not  understand  it,’ — which  was  a polite  refusal  to  in- 
terfere ; though  I afterwards  ascertained  that  she  had 
an  anxious  desire  to  assist  us,  but  dared  not  on  ac- 
count of  the  Queen.  The  day  dragged  heavily  away, 
and  another  dreadful  night  was  before  me.  I en- 
deavored to  soften  the  feelings  of  the  guard,  by  giving 
them  tea  and  segars  for  the  night ; so  that  they  allow- 
ed me  to  remain  inside  of  my  room,  without  threat- 
ening as  they  did  the  night  before.  But  the  idea  of 


BURMAN  MISSION. 


9 


your  brother  being  stretched  on  the  bare  floor  in 
irons  and  confinement,  haunted  my  mind  like  a spec- 
tre, and  prevented  my  obtaining  any  quiet  sleep, 
though  nature  was  almost  exhausted. 

“ On  the  third  day,  I sent  a message  to  the  Gover- 
nor of  the  city,  who  has  the  entire  direction  of  pri- 
son affairs,  to  allow  me  to  visit  him  with  a present. 
This  had  the  desired  effect ; and  he  immediately  sent 
orders  to  the  guards,  to  permit  my  going  into  town. 
The  Governor  received  me  pleasantly,  and  asked  me 
what  I wanted.  I stated  to  him  the  situation  of  the 
foreigners,  and  particularly  that  of  the  teachers,  who 
were  Americans,  and  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  war. 
He  told  me  it  was  not  in  his  power  to  release  them  from 
prison  or  irons,  but  that  he  could  make  their  situation 
more  comfortable ; there  was  his  head  officer,  with 
whom  I must  consult,  relative  to  the  means.  The 
officer,  who  proved  to  be  one  of  the  city  writers,  and 
whose  countenance  at  the  first  glance  presented  the 
most  perfect  assemblage  of  all  the  evil  passions  at- 
tached to  human  nature,  took  me  aside,  and  en- 
deavored, to  convince  me,  that  myself,  as  well  as  the 
prisoners,  was  entirely  at  his  disposal — that  our  future 
comfort  must  depend  on  my  liberality  in  regard  to 
presents — and  that  these  must  be  made  in  a private 
way,  and  unknown  to  any  officer  in  the  government! 
What  must  I do,  said  I,  to  obtain  a mitigation  of  the 
present  sufferings  of  the  two  teachers  ? ‘ Pay  to  me,’ 
said  he,  ‘two  hundred  tickals,  (about  a hundred  dol- 
lars,) two  pieces  of  fine  cloth,  and  two  pieces  of  hand- 
kerchiefs.’ I had  taken  money  with  me  in  the  morning, 
our  house  being  two  miles  from  the  prison — I could 
not  easily  return.  This  I offered  to  the  writer,  and 
begged  he  would  not  insist  on  the  other  articles,  as 
they  were  not  in  my  possession.  He  hesitated  for 
sometime,  but  fearing  to  lose  the  sight  of  so  much 
money,  he  concluded  to  take  it,  promising  to  relieve 
the  teachers  from  their  most  painful  situation. 

“ I then  procured  an  order  from  the  Governor  for 
my  admittance  into  prison  ; but  the  sensations  pro- 
duced by  meeting  your  brother  in  that  wretched , horrid 
situation,  and  the  affecting  scene  which  ensued,.  L 


I 


10  BRIEF  HISTORY  OF  THE 

will  not  attempt  to  describe.  ■ Mr  Judson  crawled  to 
the  door  of  the  prison — for  I was  not  allowed  to 
enter — gave  me  some  directions  relative  to  his  release ; 
but  before  we  could  make  any  arrangement,  I was 
ordered  to  depart,  by  those  iron-hearted  jailers,  who 
could  not  endure  to  see  us  enjoy  the  poor  consolation 
of  meeting  in  that  miserable  place.  In  vain  I pleaded 
the  order  from  the  Governor  for  my  admittance ; 
they  again  harshly  repeated,  ‘Depart,  or  we  will  pull 
you  out.’  The  same  evening,  the  missionaries,  to- 
gether with  the  other  foreigners,  who  paid  an  equal 
sum,  were  taken  out  of  the  common  prison,  and  con- 
fined in  an  open  shed  in  the  prison  enclosure.  Here 
I was  allowed  to  send  them  food,  and  mats  to  sleep  on  ; 
but  was  not  permitted  to  enter  again  for  several 
days.” 

Mrs.  Judson  was  now  continually  annoyed  and  ter- 
rified by  the  movements  of  government  and  petty 
officers  ; the  mission-house  was  searched  by  official 
order,  and  its  contents  confiscated,  though  not  all 
removed.  For  several  succeeding  months,  she  was 
unwearied  in  her  efforts  to  procure  the  release  of  her 
husband  and  Dr.  Price,  to  supply  them  with  food,  to 
effect  a mitigation  of  their  sufferings,  or  a reprieve 
from  immediate  execution.  The  birth  of  a daughter 
during  this  distracting  period,  adds  an  interest  to  the 
events  which  needs  no  comment. 

“During  these  seven  months,  the  continual  extortions 
and  oppressions  to  which  your  brother,  and  the  other 
white  prisoners  were  subject,  are  indescribable.  Some- 
times sums  of  money  were  demanded,  sometimes  pieces 
of  cloth,  and  handkerchiefs  ; at  other  times,  an  order 
would  be  issued  that  the  white  foreigners  should  not 
speak  to  each  other,  or  have  any  communication  with 
their  friends  without.  Then,  again,  the  servants 
were  forbidden  to  carry  in  their  food,  without  an 
extra  fee.  Sometimes,  for  days  and  days  together,  I 
could  not  go  into  the  prison  till  after  dark,  when  I 
had  two  miles  to  walk.,  in  returning  to  the  house.  O 
how  many,  many  times,  have  I returned  from  that 
dreary  prison  at  nine  o’clock  at  night,  solitary  and 
i't  with  fatigue  and  anxiety,  and  endeavored  to 


BURMAN  MISSION. 


1'1 


invent  some  new  scheme  for  the  release  of  the  prison- 
ers. Sometimes,  for  a moment  or  two,  my  thoughts 
would  glance  toward  America,  and  my  beloved  friends 
there — but  for  nearly  a year  and  a half,  so  entirely 
engrossed  was  every  thought  with  present  scenes  and 
sufferings,  that  I seldom  reflected  on  a single  occur- 
rence of  my  former  life,  or  recollected  that  I had  a 
friend  in  existence  out  of  Ava. 

“You,  my  dear  brother,  can  judge  from  the  above 
circumstances,  how  intense  were  my  sufferings.  But 
the  point,  the  acme  of  my  distress,  consisted  in  the 
awful  uncertainty  of  our  final  fate.  My  prevailing 
opinion  was,  that  my  husband  would  suffer  vio- 
lent death  ,*  and  that  I should,  of  course,  become  a 
slave,  and  languish  out  a miserable,  though  short 
existence,  in  the  tyrannic  hands  of  some  unfeeling 
monster.  But  the  consolations  of  religion,  in  these 
trying  circumstances,  were  neither  ‘ few  nor  small.’ 
It  taught  me  to  look  beyond  this  world,  to  that  rest, 
that  peaceful,  happy  rest,  where  Jesus  reigns,  and  op- 
pression never  enters. 

Sometimes  Mrs.  J.  procured  for  the  prisoners  a 
partial  relief,  but  it  was  only  temporary,  and  then 
some  fresh  instance  of  oppression  would  occur,  re- 
newing her  most  fearful  apprehensions.  Such  an 
instance  is  narrated  below.  She  had  been  permitted 
to  make  for  Mr.  J.  a little  bamboo  room  in  the  prison 
enclosures,  where  he  was  allowed  to  spend  portions 
of  his  time,  and  she  could  occasionally  sit  with  him. 
One  morning  he  “sent  me  word  that  he  and  all  the 
white  prisoners  were  put  into  the  inner  prison,  in  five 
pairs  of  fetters  each,  that  his  little  room  had  been 
torn  down,  and  his  mat,  pillow,  &c.  been  taken  by  the 
jailers.  This  was  to  me  a dreadful  shock,  as  I 
thought  at  once  it  was  only  a prelude  to  greater  evils. 

“ I was  determined  to  see  the  Governor,  and  know 
the  cause  of  this  additional  oppression  ; and  for  this 
purpose  returned  into  town  the  same  evening,  at  an 
hour  I knew  he  would  be  at  home.  He  was  in  his 
audience  room,  and,  as  I entered,  looked  up  without 
speaking,  but  exhibited  a mixture  of  shame  and  af-.^ 


L’2'  BRIEF  HISTORY  OF  THE 

fected  anger  in  his  countenance.  I began  by  saying, 
Your  Lordship  has  hitherto  treated  us  with  the  kind- 
ness of  a father.  Our  obligations  to  you  are  very 
great.  We  have  looked  to  you  for  protection  from 
oppression  and  cruelty.  You  have  in  many  instances 
mitigated  the  sufferings  of  those  unfortunate,  though 
innocent  beings  committed  to  your  charge.  You 
have  promised  me  particularly,  that  you  would  stand 
by  me  to  the  last,  and  though  you  should  receive  an 
order  from  the  king,  you  would  not  put  Mr.  J.  to 
death.  What  crime  has  he  committed  to  deserve  such 
additional  punishment-?  The  old  man’s  hard  heart 
was  melted,  for  he  wept  like  a child.  ‘ I pity  you, 
Tsa-yar-ga-dau,  (a  name  byt.  which  he  always  called 
me)  l knew  you  would  make  me  feel ; I therefore  for- 
bade your  application.  But  you  must  believe  me 
when  I say,  I do  not  wish  to  increase  the  sufferings  of 
the  prisoners.  When  I am  ordered  to  execute  them, 
the  least  that  I can  do  is,  to  put  them  out  of  sight.  I 
will  now  tell  you  (continued  he)  what  I have  never 
told  you  before,  that  three  times  I have  received  inti- 
mations from  the  Queen’s  brother,  to  assassinate  all 
the  white  prisoners  privately  ; but  I would  not  do  it. 
And  I now  repeat  it,  though  I execute  all  the  others, 
I will  never  execute  your  husband.  But  I cannot  re- 
lease him  from  his  present  confinement,  atid  you  must 
not  ask  it.’  I had  never  seen  him  manifest  so  much 
feeling,  or  so  resolute  in  denying  me  a favor;  which 
circumstance  was  an  additional  reason  for  thinking 
dreadful  scenes  were  before  us. 

“The  situation  of  the  prisoners  was  now  distress- 
ing beyond  description.  It  was  at  the  commencement 
of  the  hot  season.  There  were  above  a hundred 
prisoners  shut  up  in  one  room,  without  a breath  of  air, 
excepting  from  the  cracks  in  the  boards.  I some- 
times obtained  permission  to  go  to  the  door  for  five 
minutes,  when  my  heart  sickened  at  the  wretchedness 
exhibited.  The  white  prisoners,  from  incessant  per- 
spiration and  loss  of  appetite,  looked  more  like  the 
dead  than  the  living.  I made  daily  applications  to 
she  Governor,  offering  him  money,  which  he  refused, 


BURMAN  MISSION. 


13 


but  all  that  I gained,  was  permission  for  the  foreign- 
ers to  eat  their  food  outside,  and  this  continued  but  a 
short  time. 

“ After  continuing  in  the  inner  prison  for  more 
than  a month,  your  brother  was  taken  with  a fever.  I 
felt  assured  he  would  not  live  long,  unless  removed 
from  that  noisome  place.  The  Governor,  being  worn 
out  with  my  entreaties,  at  length  gave  me  the  order  in 
an  official  form,  to  take  Mr.  J.  out  of  the  large  prison, 
and  place  him  in  a more  comfortable  situation  ; and 
also  gave  orders  to  the  head  jailer,  to  allow  me  to  go 
in  and  out,  all  times  of  the  day,  to  administer  medi- 
cines, <fcc.  I now  felt  happy  indeed,  and  had  Mr.  J. 
instantly  removed  into  a little  bamboo  hovel,  so  low 
that  neither  of  us  could  stand  upright — but  a palace 
in  comparison  with  the  place  he  had  left.” 

Again  she  says,  “I  used  to  carry  Mr.  J. ’s  food 
myself,  for  the  sake  of  getting  in,  and  would  then  re- 
main an  hour  or  two,  unless  driven  out.  We  had  been 
in  this  comfortable  situation  but  two  or  three  days,  when 
one  morning,  having  carried  in  Mr.  Judson’s  breakfast, 
which,  in  consequence  of  fever,  he  was  unable  to  take, 
I remained  longer  than  usual,  when  the  Governor  in 
great  haste  sent  for  me.  I promised  him  to  return 
as  soon  as  I had  ascertained  the  Governor’s  will,  he 
being  much  alarmed  at  this  unusual  message.  I was 
very  agreeably  disappointed,  when  the  Governor  in- 
formed me  that  he  only  wished  to  consult  me  about 
his  watch;  and  seemed  unusually  pleasant  and  con- 
versable. I found  afterwards  that  his  only  object 
was  to  detain  me  until  the  dreadful  scene  about  to 
take  place  in  the  prison,  was  over.  For  when  I left 
him  to  go  to  my  room,  one  of  the  servants  came  run- 
ning, and  with  a ghastly  countenance,  informed  me 
that  all  the  white  prisoners  were  carried  away.” 

After  several  hours  of  agonizing  suspense,  she 
learned  their  destination,  and  resolved  to  follow  them. 
The  Governor,  who  commiserated  her  condition,  said 
to  her,  “ 4 You  can  do  nothing  more  for  your  husband, 
take  care  of  yourself  ’ With  a heavy  heart  I went  to 
my  room,  and  having  no  hope  to  excite  me  to  exer 
tion,  I sunk  down  almost  in  despair.  For  several 
2 


14 


BRIEF  HISTORY  OF  THE 


days  previous,  I had  been  actively  engaged  in  build- 
ing my  own  little  room,  and  making  our  hovel  com- 
fortable. My  thoughts  had  been  almost  entirely  oc- 
cupied in  contriving  means  to  get  into  prison.  But 
now  I looked  towards  the  gate  with  a kind  of  melan- 
choly feeling,  but  no  wish  to  enter.  All  was  the 
stillness  of  death,  no  preparation  of  your  brother’s 
food,  no  expectation  of  meeting  him  at  the  usual  din- 
ner hour,  all  my  employment,  all  my  occupations 
seemed  to  have  ceased,  and  I had  nothing  left  but  the 
dreadful  recollection  that  Mr.  Judson  was  carried  off, 
I knew  not  whither.  It  was  one  of  the  most  insup- 
portable days  I ever  passed.” 

After  a distressing  ride  the  next  day,  with  her  in- 
fant in  her  arms,  she  reached  “that  never  to  be  for- 
gotten place,  Oung-pen-la.  ” There  she  found  the 
white  prisoners  5 but  it  were  vain  to  attempt  a sketch 
of  the  agonies  under  which  they  had  been  goaded 
thither  by  iron-hearted  monsters.  For  these  par- 
ticulars, as  well  as  a narrative  of  a six  months’  resi- 
dence at  that  place,  the  reader  is  referred  to  Mrs. 
Judson’s  Memoir.  Her  own  personal,  bodily  dis- 
tresses were  seemingly  beyond  human  endurance; 
for  amidst  privations,  toils,  and  dangers,  she  was 
seized  with  an  illness  which  continued  more  than  two 
months,  during  which,  a Bengalee  male  servant  was 
the  only  attendant  for  herself,  her  sick  child,  and  Mr. 
J.,  who  was  likewise  ill  in  prison.  At  length,  the 
Burmese  government,  alarmed  by  the  rapid  approach 
of  the  English  army  toward  the  “ golden  city,”  sent 
an  order  for  Mr.  J.’s  release  and  instant  removal  to 
the  camp,  that  he  might  negociate  a peace.  This, 
after  considerable  delay,  was  effected ; and  one  con- 
dition of  it  being  an  immediate  discharge  of  all 
the  foreigners  held  in  confinement  by  his  Burman 
Majesty,  the  missionaries  were  set  at  liberty,  and 
placed  under  British  protection. 

One  additional  fact  illustrative  of  the  savage  spirit 
by  which  those  were  actuated,  on  whose  tender  mer- 
cies the  missionaries  were  dependent,  and  exhibiting 
the  protecting  care  of  an  over-ruling  Providence,  must 
not  be  omitted. 


BURMAN  MISSION. 


15 


Sometime  after  their  arrival  at  Oung-pen-la,  they 
learned  that  the  white  foreigners  had  been  sent  there 
for  the  express  purpose  of  being  sacrificed.  An  of- 
ficer who  had  just  come  into  favor  with  the  Emperor, 
had  ordered  this,  and  it  was  only  delayed  that  he 
might  be  present  to  witness  the  horrid  scene.  But 
while  he  was  preparing  an  army  to  march  against 
the  English,  he  was  suspected  of  high  treason,  and 
instantly  executed,  without  the  least  examination. 

Missionary  efforts  throughout  the  country  were  sus- 
pended for  a long  and  gloomy  period  ; and  if  the  God 
of  missions  were  not  the  wise  and  glorious  governor  of 
the  universe,  accomplishing  his  own  purposes  in  the 
most  mysterious  ways,  this  might  have  seemed  the 
death-blow  of  our  efforts  in  that  region.  After  the  war, 
Dr.  Price  remained  at  Ava.  Here  he  had  under  his  in- 
struction the  sons  of  some  of  the  highest  officers  of 
government.  His  journals  narrate  several  interesting 
conversations  with  the  young  princes.  He  lectured 
to  them  on  various  branches  of  natural  philosophy, 
and  intermingled  and  deduced  arguments  and  reasons 
for  the  religion  of  the  Bible.  But  in  the  midst  of  his 
usefulness,  God  saw  fit  to  take  him  from  the  service 
of  earth  to  the  purer  and  holier  services  of  heaven. 
He  died,  near  Ava,  in  February,  1828.  The  station 
was  not  resumed  till  April,  1833,  when  Rev.  E.  Kin- 
caid left  Rangoon  for  that  place. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  war,  Messrs.  Wade 
and  Hough,  the  only  missionaries  at  Rangoon,  were 
ordered  to  execution ; and  their  lives  were  saved  only 
by  the  cowardice  of  their  Burmati  oppressors.  When 
they  were  liberated  by  the  advance  of  the  British  army, 
they  sailed  immediately  for  Calcutta,  to  await  the 
course  of  events.  During  this  interval  in  their  work, 
Mr.  Wade  superintended  the  printing  of  a Burman 
dictionary,  prepared  chiefly  by  Mr.  Judson  ; and  thus 
accomplished  an  invaluable  service  for  future  mission- 
aries. 

After  an  absence  of  two  years  and  three  months, 
the  missionaries  returned  to  Rangoon.  Some  of  the 
disciples  were  dead;  and  of  some,  no  news  could  be 
obtained.  A few  were  anxiously  waiting  to  know  the 


16 


BRIEF  HISTORY  OF  THE 


plans  of  their  spiritual  leaders,  designing  wherever 
they  should  go,  to  go  with  them.  None,  it  is  believed, 
had  apostatized  from  the  steadfastness  of  their  faith. 

In  consequence  of  the  arrangements  of  the  British 
government,  it  was  thought  proper  to  leave  the  station 
at  Rangoon  for  a while,  and  establish  one  in  its  stead 
at  Amherst,  to  which  a large  proportion  of  the  popu- 
lation had  removed.  It  was  supposed  this  town  would 
become  the  capital  of  the  Company’s  possessions  gain- 
ed by  the  war.  Schools  were  here  established,  which 
began  to  give  much  encouragement — especially  the 
school  for  girls,  under  the  care  of  Mrs.  W ade.  But 
the  British  garrison  was  eventually  removed  to  Maul- 
mein,  and  the  town  of  Amherst  suffered  to  decay. 
The  population  gradually  retired,  and  finally,  the  mis- 
sionaries also — regretting  the  change  most  of  all,  be- 
cause it  removed  them  from  the  place  where  rest  the 
ashes  of  Mrs.  Judson,  and  from  which,  in  October, 
1826,  her  spirit  ascended  to  the  Redeemer. 

Mr.  Judson,  at  the  time  of  her  death,  was  at  Ava, 
whither  he  had  accompanied  an  Embassy  from  the 
English  Government.  He  thus  writes  of  Mrs.  J’s. 
death  to  her  mother  : 

“ I left  your  daughter,  my  beloved  wife,  at  Amherst, 
the  5th  of  July  last,  in  good  health,  comfortably  situ- 
ated, happy  in  being  out  of  the  reach  of  our  savage 
oppressors,  and  animated  in  prospect  of  a field  of 
missionary  labor  opening  under  the  auspices  of  Bri- 
tish protection.  It  affords  me  some  comfort,  that  she 
not  only  consented  to  my  leaving  her,  for  the  purpose 
of  joining  the  present  embassy  to  Ava,  but  uniformly 
gave  her  advice  in  favor  of  the  measure,  whenever  I 
hesitated  concerning  my  duty.  Accordingly,  I left 
her.  After  my  arrival  at  Ava,  I received  several  let- 
ters from  her,  written  in  her  usual  style,  and  exhibit- 
ing no  subject  of  regret  or  apprehension,  except  the 
declining  health  of  our  little  daughter  Maria.” 

After  mentioning  a letter  from  the  English  Super- 
intendant  at  Amherst,  which,  though  it  spoke  of  Mrs. 
Judson’s  being  slightly  ill,  was  yet  of  such  a tenor  as 
to  make  his  “mind  quite  at  ease,  both  as  it  regarded 


BURMAN  MISSION. 


17 


the  mother  and  the  child,”  he  says  : — “My  next  com- 
munication was  a letter  with  a black  seal,  handed  me 
by  a person,  saying  he  was  sorry  to  inform  me  of  the 
death  of  the  child.  I know  not  whether  this  was  a 
mistake  on  his  part,  or  kindly  intended  to  prepare  my 
mind  for  the  real  intelligence.  I went  into  my  room, 
and  opened  the  letter  with  feelings  of  gratitude  and 
joy,  that  at  any  rate  the  mother  was  spared.  It  was 
from  Mr.  B , Assistant  Superintendant  of  Am- 

herst, dated  the  26th  of  October,  and  began  thus  : 

“ ‘My  dear  Sir,  to  one  who  has  suffered  so  much, 
and  with  such  exemplary  fortitude,  there  needs  but 
little  preface  to  tell  a tale  of  distress.  It  were  cruel 
indeed  to  torture  you  with  doubt  and  suspense.  To 
sum  up  the  unhappy  tidings  in  a few  words — Mrs. 
Judson  is  no  more.’ 

“ At  intervals,  I got  through  with  the  dreadful  let- 
ter— ” 

The  subjoined  particulars,  are  from  a subsequent 
letter  to  the  same  person,  after  his  return  to  Amherst. 

“ I have  been  on  a visit  to  the  physician  who  at- 
tended her  in  her  illness.  I am  now  convinced'  that 
everything  possible  was  done ; and  that  had  I been 
present  myself,  I could  not  have  essentially  contri- 
buted to  avert  the  fatal  termination  of  the  disease. 
He  says,  that  from  the  first  attack  of  the  fever,  she 
was  persuaded  she  should  not  recover  ; but  that  her 
mind  was  uniformly  tranquil  and  happy  in  the  pros- 
pect of  death.  She  only  expressed  occasional  regret 
at  leaving  her  child,  the  native  Christians,  and  the 
schools,  before  her  husband  or  another  missionary 
family  could  arrive.  The  last  two  days  she  was  free 
from  pain.  On  her  attention  being  roused  by  reite- 
rated questions,  she  replied,  ‘I  feel  quite  well,  only 
very  weak.’  These  were  her  last  words. 

“The  doctor  is  decidedly  of  opinion  that  the  fatal 
termination  of  the  fever  is  to  be  ascribed  to  the  weak- 
ness of  her  constitution,  occasioned  by  severe  priva- 
tions and  long  protracted  sufferings  which  she  endured 
at  Ava.  Oh,  with  what  meekness,  patience,  magnan- 
imity, and  Christian  fortitude,  she  bore  those  suffer. 

2* 


18 


BRIEF  HISTORY  OF  THE 


ings!  And  can  I wish  they  had  been  less?  Can  I 
sacrilegiously  wish  to  rob  her  crown  of  a single 
gem  ?” 

Moung  Thah-a,  a native  convert,  commenced 
preaching  at  Rangoon,  after  the  war,  and  several  per- 
sons were  converted.  The  missionaries  at  Maulmein 
were  so  well  satisfied  with  his  character  and  qualifica- 
tions, that  they  ordained  him,  in  January,  1829,  pastor 
of  the  Rangoon  native  church.  His  success  has  been 
very  pleasing.  During  the  year  1831,  seven  new  con- 
verts were  baptized,  and  the  state  of  religion  became 
more  interesting.  On  the  arrival  of  Mr.  J.  T.  Jones, 
in  Feb.  1831,  the  station  was  again  taken  under  the 
charge  of  our  missionaries,  and  the  native  preachers 
labored  under  their  direction.  Mr.  Jones  or  Mr.  Jud- 
son,  for  a considerable  time,  supplied  the  station,  and 
gave  away  daily  a large  amount  of  tracts. 

The  effects  already  produced,  and  which,  with  the 
blessing  of  God,  are  likely  to  follow  a free  circulation 
of  these  and  corresponding  publications,  may  be  im- 
agined from  the  following  facts,  selected  from  many 
reported  in  the  journals  of  the  missionaries.  Mr. 
Kincaid  says,  June  28,  1832,  “ Within  this  immediate 
district,  there  are  many  inquirers  ; and  for  four  weeks, 
I have  had  many  visitors  from  the  interior  of  the 
country.  By  these  individuals,  I learn  that  in  many 
places,  there  is  considerable  excitement  about  the  new 
religion,  and  that  this  excitement  has  been  produced 
by  reading  the  tracts  and  portions  of  the  Scripture, 
which  have  been  carried  away  by  persons  visiting  this 
city.  One  person  from  Thong-oo,  about  200  miles 
from  this,  has  come  for  the  purpose  of  knowing  what 
he  shall  do  to  be  saved.  His  eyes  are  open,  and  he 
is  filled  with  admiration  and  love.  He  is  one  of  the 
government  men  in  that  city,  and  a person  of  superior 
understanding.  He  says  he  knows  many  there,  who 
are  convinced  that  this  is  the  true  religion.  Some 
time  since,  Moung  En  visited  Pegu  and  a number  of 
the  villages  in  the  district,  preaching  and  distributing 
tracts.  He  related  that  many  listened  and  some  dis- 
puted. An  inquirer  from  Pantenau,  three  or  four  days’ 


BURMAN  MISSION. 


19 


distance,  called  on  me.  He  has  read  the  ‘ View  of  the 
Christian  Religion’  and  the  ‘ Golden  Balance,’  and 
gives  some  evidence  of  a saving  change.” 

“ In  Rangoon,”  says  Mr.  Jones,  “ the  native  teacher 
who  goes  about  the  city  from  day  to  day,  stated  that 
the  number  of  those  who  believe  in  the  Eternal  God 
and  secretly  pray  to  him,  is  not  small.  Through  fear 
of  their  rulers,  they  are  not  yet  prepared  openly  to 
avow  their  attachment  to  the  truth.  They  make  no 
offerings  to  the  priests,  nor  prostrate  themselves  at 
the  pagodas  : which  nevertheless,  they  occasionally 
visit,  to  avoid  the  reproach  of  their  acquaintances.” 

Even  the  Viceroy,  for  a time,  seemed  no  way  op- 
posed to  the  operations  of  the  brethren.  Two  of  them 
called  on  him,  and  were  received  with  distinguished 
kindness.  They  presented  the  Catechism  of  Geogra- 
phy and  Astronomy,  the  Chronological  Table,  and  a 
map  of  the  world  prepared  in  Burman,  which  he  ex- 
amined with  lively  interest,  and  asked  many  questions. 
“ The  remarks  which  he  made  concerning  different 
places  and  the  Christian  Religion,”  says  Mr.  Wade, 
“ evinced  the  knowledge  he  had  obtained  of  these 
subjects,  and  proved  that  he  had  read  much  in  the 
books  which  have  been  circulated  among  the  people.” 
The  missionaries,  however,  do  not  place  an  undue  es- 
timate on  this  branch  of  labor,  nor  propose  for  a mo- 
ment to  make  a substitute  of  it,  for  preaching  the 
gospel.  The  number  of  the  church  up  to  the  latest 
date  (1833)  is  forty-two. 

MAULMEIN. 

When  the  town  of  Amherst  was  abandoned,  the 
British  soldiers  and  a large  number  of  natives  remov- 
ed to  this  place.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boardman,  who  sail- 
ed from  America  in  July,  1825,  established  themselves 
here  in  the  summer  of  1827,  and  remained  for  a while 
alone.  Several  persons  listened  with  attention,  and 
a flourishing  school  was  commenced  for  boys.  The 
school  for  girls  at  Amherst  had  excited  so  much  in- 
terest, that  eleven  of  them — more  than  half — removed 
thence  to  Maulmein.  Among  the  members  of  this 


20 


BRIEF  HISTORY  OF  THE 


school  was  Mee-Shway-ee,  whose  memoir  has  been 
published  in  this  country,*  and  deserves  a place  among 
the  most  precious  of  our  monuments  of  juvenile  pietv. 

As  Maulmein  is  the  station  of  the  British  soldiery, 
it  has  become  also  the  most  prominent  point  of  the 
operations  of  the  mission.  It  is  marked  in  mission- 
ary history,  as  a heathen  town,  which  has  been  bless- 
ed with  a revival  of  religion.  The  female  school  has 
been  particularly  distinguished;  and  a number  of  the 
scholars  have  been  baptized.  The  whole  number  of 
baptisms,  from  January,  1828,  to  March,  1830,  was  six- 
ty-two. During  the  year  183 1,  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
six  persons  were  baptized  at  this  station. 

The  revival  at  Maulmein  was  largely  shared  by  the 
British  soldiers.  They  presented  so  interesting  a 
field  of  labor,  that  Mr.  Kincaid,  on  his  arrival  in 
November,  1830,  assumed  the  task  of  preaching  to 
them,  and  afterwards  became  the  pastor  of  the  church 
in  the  army.  It  was  thought  expedient  to  make  this 
band  of  believers  a separate  church  from  the  native 
converts.  Before  the  detachment  left  the  place,  the 
church  numbered  one  hundred  and  thirteen  members  ; 
eighty-nine  of  whom  were  added  during  the  year  1831. 

In  the  region  around  Maulmein  are  several  villages 
of  Karens— a people  who  will  be  more  particularly 
noticed  under  the  next  head.  In  an  excursion  of  six 
weeks  among  them  early  in  1832,  Mr.  Judson  baptized 
twenty-five  converts.  During  the  year  embraced  in  the 
Report  of  the  Board  for  1833,  sixty-six  were  admit- 
ted by  baptism — bringing  up  the  number  of  the  Ka- 
ren church  attached  to  this  station  to  seventy-seven. 
Eight  were  also  added  to  the  native  church  at  Maul- 
mein. The  total  number  of  members  in  the  three 
churches  at  this  place,  in  1 833,  was  four  hundred  and 
six. 

This  is  the  seat  of  the  printing-establishment,  where 
Messrs.  Bennett,  Cutter  and  Hancock  assiduously 
labor  to  prepare  tracts  and  portions  of  scripture  for 
distribution.  This  is  also  Mr.  Judson’s  principal  resi- 
dence, where  he  is  devoting  himself  to  the  completion 

* This  interesting  Memoir  is  No.  70  in  the  series  of  tracts  pub- 
lished by  the  Baptist  General  Tract  Society. 


BURMAN  MISSION. 


21 


of  his  translation  of  the  Bible.  It  is  hoped  it  will  be 
finished  in  May,  1834.  An  account  of  the  employment 
of  the  press  will  be  given  in  a subsequent  page,  un- 
der the  head  printing. 

TAVOY KARENS. 

By  recommendation  of  the  Board,  and  the  advice 
of  the  brethren  atMaulmein,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boardman 
commenced  a station  atTavoy,in  April,  1828.  They 
were  accompanied  by  two  native  Christians,  of  whom 
one  was  a Karen,  approved  by  the  church,  but  not 
baptized,  till  his  arrival  at  Tavoy. 

Mr.  B.  had  no  sooner  arrived,  than  information  was 
brought  him  of  the  Karens,  a race  of  people  who  re- 
side at  some  distance  from  Tavoy.  He  was  assured 
that  they  would  embrace  the  Christian  religion,  and 
invited  to  visit  them.  Their  language  differs  from  the 
Burman.  In  some  of  their  characteristics,  they  re- 
semble the  North  American  Indians. 

The  Karens  have  now  become  the  chief  attraction 
at  Tavoy.  When  Mr.  Boardman  visited  them,  he 
found  them  an  exceedingly  honest  and  devout  people. 
They  had  among  them  a sorcerer  or  priest  who  had 
in  his  possession  a book,  to  which  they  all  paid  re- 
ligious worship.  It  was  left  among  them  some  years 
previous  by  an  individual,  who  enjoined  upon  them 
several  superstitious  observances,  and  this  among  the 
rest.  It  had  been  for  twelve  years,  the  chief  object 
of  their  curiosity  to  find  out  the  contents  of  this  book. 
On  hearing  of  the  arrival  of  Mr.  B.  at  Tavoy,  they 
supposed  he  must  be  the  teacher,  a belief  in  whose 
coming  had  been  the  chief  article  of  their  creed,  and 
who,  they  expected,  could  explain  the  book.  Too 
impatient  to  wait  till  the  rains  were  over,  and  Mr.  B. 
could  go  to  them,  they  sent  a deputation  to  him,  a dis- 
tance of  three  days’ journey,  with  the  sorcerer  and  his 
book  at  their  head.  After  unwrapping  it  in  Mr.  B.’s 
presence,  with  great  veneration,  they  presented  it  to 
him.  It  was  an  English  prayer  book.  He  imme- 
diately told  them  it  was  a good  book — that  they  must 
worship  not  the  book  itself,  but  the  God  of  whom  it 
spoke.  Through  the  Karen  Christian,  who  accom- 
panied him  from  Maulmein,  he  was  able  to  converse 


22 


BRIEF  HISTORY  OF  THE 


much  with  them  on  religious  things.  They  listened 
with  great  interest,  and  urged  him  to  visit  them, 
which  he  did  as  soon  as  was  practicable. 

This  incident  has  led  to  the  developement  of  the 
most  encouraging,  important,  and  laborious  branch  of 
the  Burman  mission.  Several  visits  have  been  made 
among  the  Karens,  which  have  been  invariably  mark- 
ed by  a happy  issue,  and  an  astonishing  spirit  of  in- 
quiry has  been  awakened  among  them. 

A church  was  soon  formed  at  Tavoy,  consisting  of 
ten  members,  of  whom  seven  were  Karens,  and  one 
the  head  man  of  a village. 

When  the  station  was  assuming  an  air  of  the  high- 
est interest,  the  intense  labors  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B. 
had  so  impaired  their  health,  that  they  were  obliged 
to  leave,  for  a while,  and  retire  to  Maulmein.  But 
the  Karen  converts,  in  the  mean  while,  were  not  in- 
active. “ Their  manner,”  says  Mrs.  Boardman,  “ has 
been  such  as  to  remind  us  forcibly  of  what  we  read 
respecting  the  Apostles  and  primitive  Christians. 
The  chief,  Moung  So,  and  Moung  Kyah,  have  taken 
such  parts  of  the  Scriptures  as  we  could  give  them, 
and  gone  from  house  to  house,  and  village  to  village, 
expounding  the  word,  exhorting  the  people,  and  uniting 
with  their  exertions,  frequent  and  fervent  prayers.” 
Such  a course  of  means,  steadily  pursued,  served  to 
water  the  seed  sown,  and  cause  it  to  vegetate  and 
spring  up,  and  bear  the  harvest  which  Mr.  B.  on  his 
return,  was  allowed  to  gather  in. 

It  was  not  till  December,  1830,  after  an  absence  of 
seven  months,  that  he  resumed  his  labors,  and  then 
under  the  pressure  of  great  weakness.  He  took  with 
him  Ko-Ing,  an  ordained  preacher,  and  Ko-Thah-byoo. 
No  sooner  had  he  reached  Tavoy,  than  his  faithful 
Karens  gathered  about  him  from  the  country,  bring- 
ing with  them  many  who  gave  evidence  of  true  con- 
version to  God,  and  wished  for  baptism.  Successive 
days  were  spent  in  a scrupulous  examination  of  the 
candidates,  and  in  the  course  of  six  weeks  the  best 
satisfaction  was  obtained  of  twenty-three,  who  were 
admitted  to  the  rite.  While  Mr.  B.  was  filled  with 
joy  in  beholding  such  trophies  of  redeeming  love,  in- 


BUSMAN  MISSION. 


23 


telligence  was  brought,  that  a far  greater  number  in 
remote  villages,  which  he  had  formerly  visited,  had 
obtained  like  precious  faith,  and  were  desirous  to  give 
the  same  proof  of  their  attachment  to  Christ,  but 
were  unable  to  come  to  town.  On  receiving  this  in- 
formation, together  with  an  urgent  request  that  he 
would  without  delay  come  to  them,  he  consented, 
though  he  was  at  the  time  so  exhausted  by  sickness 
as  to  be  unable  to  ride  or  walk.  A zayat  was  prepar- 
ed for  him  at  a distance  of  three  days’  journey,  and 
everything  was  made  ready  for  him  to  commence  the 
undertaking.  It  was  at  this  juncture,  so  interesting 
and  important,  that  Mr.  Mason  arrived.  Nothing 
could  be  more  in  time,  if  we  consider  all  the  circum- 
stances which  followed. — Nothing  could  be  more  re- 
freshing to  Mr.  Boardman  than  the  countenance  of  a 
brother,  sinking  as  he  was  under  accumulated  weak- 
ness, and  with  so  great  a work  just  before  him — a 
brother  with  whom  he  might  intrust  those  sheep  in 
the  wilderness,  for  whom  he  had  cherished  so  great 
solicitude,  and  from  whom  it  was  plain  he  must  soon 
be  taken. 

Mr.  Mason,  on  first  seeing  the  emaciated  form  of 
Mr.  Boardman,  hesitated  respecting  his  contemplated 
journey  ; but  when  he  perceived  the  ardor  of  his  soul, 
and  how  much  his  heart  was  set  on  accomplishing  the 
work  proposed,  he  forbore  all  objections,  and  resolved 
to  accompany  him.  On  the  31st  of  January,  1831, 
they  started,  Mrs.  B.  in  company,  and  Mr.  B.  borne 
on  a cot. 

After  three  days,  they  reached  the  place,  without 
any  very  sensible  exhaustion.  “ During  our  stay, 
however,”  says  Mr.  Mason,  “ he  so  evidently  lost 
strength,  that  Mrs.  B.  on  one  occasion  advised  him 
to  return  ; to  which  he  replied  with  more  than  com- 
mon animation,  ‘ The  cause  of  God  is  of  more  import- 
ance than  my  health,  and  if  I return  now,  our  whole 
object  will  be  defeated- — I want  to  see  the  work  of  the 
Lord  go  on.’  Wednesday  morning,  it  was  apparent,” 
says  Mr.  Mason,  “ that  death  was  near.  He  consent- 
ed, provided  the  examination  and  baptism  of  the 
candidates  could  that  day  be  completed,  to  return. 


24 


BRIEF  HISTORY  OF  THE 


Accordingly,  a little  before  sunset,  he  was  carried  out 
in  his  bed  to  the  water  side,  where,  lifting  his  languid 
head  to  gaze  on  the  gratifying  scene,  I had  the  plea- 
sure to  baptize  in  his  presence  thirty-four  individuals, 
who  gave  satisfactory  evidence  to  all,  that  they  had 
passed  from  death  unto  life.”  He  was  so  much  ex- 
hausted that  he  could  scarcely  breathe.  But  his  soul 
was  in  perfect  peace.  When  the  baptism  was  over, 
he  said  ‘ I feel  now  that  I am  done,  and  am  ready  to 
depart,  and  can  say  from  my  heart,  Lord,  now  lettest 
thou  thy  servant  depart  in  peace.’ 

On  the  second  day  of  his  return,  it  was  concluded, 
with  his  approbation,  to  take  him  in  a boat  down  a 
stream  which  was  near. 

“ At  about  12  o’clock,”  says  Mrs.  B.  “ the  boat  was 
ready,  and  only  a few  steps  from  the  house.  The 
Karens  carried  out  Mr.  Boardman  first — and  as  the 
shore  was  muddy,  I was  obliged  to  wait  till  they  could 
put  him  into  the  boat.  They  then  took  me  imme- 
diately to  him  ; but  O,  what  was  the  agony  of  my  soul 
when  I saw  that  the  hand  of  death  was  on  him.  I 
spoke  to  him,  but  he  made  no  answer,  though  I fan- 
cied that  he  tried  to  move  his  lips.  Without  a strug- 
gle or  a sigh,  he  breathed  out  his  happy  spirit  into 
the  presence  of  his  Redeemer,  with  the  faithful  Ka- 
rens kneeling  around  him  in  prayer.” 

Mr.  Mason  returned  to  Tavoy,  and  took  charge  of 
the  station.  About  forty  individuals  have  since  been 
added  to  the  church — most  of  them  Karens,  and  re- 
siding in  nine  or  ten  different  villages.  The  whole 
number  baptized  at  Tavoy,  during  the  year  1831,  was 
ninety-six. 

Early  in  January,  1832,  Mr.  Mason  set  out  again  for 
the  Karen  country,  and  was  absent  about  two  months. 
Our  limits  will  only  allow  us  to  report  some  of  the  clos- 
ing events.  After  travelling  over  several  very  difficult 
passes  in  mountains,  in  pursuit  of  those  who  had  not 
heard  the  gospel,  and  distributing  many  tracts,  he  re- 
turned to  the.  well-known  village  of  Moung-So,  late  in 
February,  when  he  writes, — “ I cry  no  longer  ‘ the 
norrors  of  heathenism,’  butthe  ‘blessingsofmissions!’ 
I date  no  longer  from  a heathen  land.  Heathenism  has 


BURMAN  MISSION. 


25 


fled  these  banks.  I look  on  fields  cultivated  by  Chris- 
tians, and  see  no  dwellings  but  those  inhabited  by  Chris- 
tian families.  When  brother  Boardman  visited  this 
people,  three  years  ago,  they  were  worshipping  demons, 
and  in  the  practice  of  all  the  vices  connected  with  uni- 
versal darkness  ; but  he  preached  to  them  the  gospel, 

‘ with  the  Holy  Ghost  sent  down  from  heaven  and 
behold,  all  things  have  become  new!”  Here,  the  con- 
verts from  the  adjacent  country  gathered  around  Mr. 
Mason,  and  a course  of  examination  for  baptism  be- 
gan, which  terminated  the  third  day  with  the  admis- 
sion of  twenty-seven.  Many  of  these  dated  their 
Christian  experience  ten  or  twelve  months  back, 
and  some  even  more, — affording  to  their  pious  ac- 
quaintances and  others,  the  best  opportunity  of  deter- 
mining the  sincerity  of  their  profession. 

Mrs.  Boardman,  says,  “ most  of  them  live  two  or 
three  days’  journey  distant ; but,  by  their  frequent 
visits  to  us,  over  almost  impassable  mountains,  and 
through  deserts,  the  haunt  of  the  tiger,  evince  a love 
for  the  gospel  seldom  surpassed.  What  would  the 
Christians  in  America  think  of  travelling  forty  or 
fifty  miles  on  foot,  to  hear  a sermon  and  beg  a Chris- 
tian book  ? A good  Christian  woman,  who  has  been 
living  with  us  several  months,  told  me  that  when  she 
came,  the  water  was  so  deep  that  she  was  obliged  to 
wait  till  the  men  in  the  company  could  cut  down  trees, 
and  lay  across  the  streams  for  her  to  get  over  on  ; and 
sometimes  she  forded  tjie  streams.  The  reason  of 
their  coming  at  so  bad  a time  was,  we  had  appointed 
a church  fast,  and  sent  to  the  Karen  Christians  living 
near,  to  unite  with  us  ; but  a rumor  of  it  spread  be- 
yond the  mountains,  and  they  were  so  afraid  that  they 
should  not  observe  it  at  the  right  time  and  in  the  right 
way,  that  a large  company  of  the  best  disciples  came 
immediately  to  inquire  about  it.  As  far  as  we  can 
learn,  they  manifest  the  same  tenderness  of  conscience 
and  fear  of  doing  wrong,  on  every  subject ; and  I can 
say  with  truth,  that  the  more  we  become  acquainted  with 
them,  the  more  reason  we  find  to  love  them  as  Chris- 
tians, and  to  believe  that  the  work  is  of  God.  Some 
of  them  have  lived  on  our  premises  month  after  month,. 


26 


BRIEF  HISTORY  OF  THE 


and  their  conduct  has  been  most  exemplary ; and  we 
have  not  heard  of  an  instance  of  immorality  among 
any  of  the  church  members  during  the  past  year.” 

The  Karen  disciples  manifest  a truly  missionary 
spirit.  They  had  heard  by  report,  that  some  of  their 
kinsmen  according  to  the  flesh,  dwelt  in  Siam,  who 
had  never  heard  the  name  of  Jesus.  They  knew 
nothing  of  the  purpose  of  our  missionaries  to  form  a 
station  in  Siam,  nor  of  Mr.  Mason’s  wish  to  visit  the 
Siamese  Karens.  But  when  he  began  to  make  inqui- 
ries preparatory  to  such  a tour,  he  fbund  he  was  an- 
ticipated. Several  had  already  gone  to  proclaim  to 
them  the  glad  tidings  of  the  gospel. 

The  spirit  of  inquiry  among  the  Karens  around 
Tavoy  seems  not  at  all  diminished.  On  the  contrary, 
deputations  and  appeals  are  often  sent  from  a long  dis- 
tance in  the  interior,  entreating  the  missionaries  to 
send  one  of  their  number  to  make  known  to  them  the 
way  of  life. 

MERGUI. 

In  October,  1831,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wade,  by  the  advice 
of  the  brethren,  made  a visit  to  Mergui,  and  tarried 
little  more  than  five  months.  On  arriving,  Mr. W.  found 
the  inhabitants  were  numerous,  and  made  up  of  Bur- 
mans,  Chinese,  Portuguese,  Mussulmans,  &c.  He 
was  received  jiy  Mr.  Maingy,  the  civil  commissioner, 
with  kindness,  and  a place  of  residence  was  assigned 
him ; but  on  commencing  his  labors,  he  found  few  at 
first  who  were  disposed  to  hear  his  message,  or  receive 
his  books.  He  took  a zayat,  which  he  occupied  a 
part  of  each  day,  and  received  those  who  called  for 
conversation.  He  had  the  satisfaction  to  perceive  an 
increasing  attention  on  the  part  of  the  people,  from 
week  to  week,  and  a growing  desire  for  books,  till,  on 
some  occasions,  he  gave  away  from  thirty  to  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  a day.  A spirit  of  inquiry  was  also 
awakened,  which  resulted  in  the  hopeful  conversion 
of  several  individuals.  Early  in  his  visit,  he  was 
found  by  certain  Karens  from  the  neighboring  jun- 
gle, and  earnestly  solicited  to  go  to  them  ; and  having 
obtained  the  assistance  of  Ko-Ing,  a native  preacher 
from  Tavoy,  and  Ko-Manpoke,  from  Maulmein,  he 


BURMAN  MISSION. 


srr 

readily  consented.  He  was  received  by  them  with  all 
readiness,  as  other  brethren  have  been  in  other  villages 
of  that  interesting  people.  During  his  stay  of  two 
weeks,  multitudes  of  them  heard  the  gospel,  and 
lasting  impressions  appeared  to  be  produced  on  the 
minds  of  the  principal  chief  and  of  some  of  his  ad- 
herents. Before  leaving  Mergui  in  March,  Mr.  Wade 
deemed  it  his  duty  to  regard  the  request  of  several 
applicants  for  baptism  ; and,  on  mature  examination, 
live  were  admitted.  After  the  administration  of  the 
sacred  ordinance,  the  new  converts,  and  such  other 
native  disciples  as  determined  to  remain,  were  em- 
bodied as  a church  of  Christ,  and  Ko-Ing  appointed 
to  be  their  pastor. 

The  efforts  of  Mrs.  Wade  during  the  time,  in  school 
teaching,  will  be  reported  most  satisfactorily  in  her 
own  language.  She  says,  “ When  we  went  to  Mergui, 
not  expecting  to  remain  in  the  place  many  months,  it 
was  not  thought  expedient  to  incur  the  expense  of 
building  a school-house  ; but  I found  twelve  or  four- 
teen girls  and  women,  who  were  willing  to  learn  to 
read,  with  the  assistance  of  a father  or  brother  at 
home,  and  come  to  me  for  recitation  and  religious  in- 
struction nearly  every  day.  Two  of  this  number 
learned  to  read,  and  committed  the  catechism  and 
short  prayers  ; another  had  just  begun  to  read  ; four 
others,  who  had  before  learned,  made  good  pro- 
ficiency in  committing  select  portions  of  Scripture, 
prayers,  Sec.,  (three  of  this  number  were  from  sister 
Boardman’s  school  at  Tavoy,)  and  three  others  had 
nearly  finished  the  elementary  lessons.  These  ten 
promise  to  continue  their  studies,  though  we  are  re- 
moved from  them.  This  is  all  I was  able  to  do  in  the 
way  of  schools,  during  our  stay  at  Mergui.  We  are 
encouraged,  however,  in  reflecting  that  the  last  great 
day  may  show  that  even  this  feeble  effort  was  not  en- 
tirely in  vain  ; for  the  first  woman,  soon  after  be- 
ginning to  learn,  appeared  serious,  attended  family 
worship  and  daily  instructions,  and  was  the  first 
baptized.  Two  other  individuals  also  gave  some  evi- 
dence of  piety,  and  earnestly  requested  baptism.  But, 
for  the  present,  it  was  thought  best  to  defer  it. 


28 


BRIEF  HISTORY  OF  THE 


SCHOOLS. 

Feeling  the  importance  of  implanting  the  princi- 
ples of  religion  in  the  minds  of  children,  schools  have 
been  regarded  by  the  Board  from  the  beginning  as 
among  the  most  important  objects.  But  the  number 
of  laborers  in  Burmah  is  so  few,  and  their  cares  so 
pressing,  that  other  occupations  more  strictly  connect- 
ed with  preaching  the  gospel , have  attracted  their  atten- 
tion. Schools,  however,  have  hot  been  neglected,  nor 
have  they  been  useless.  Their  establishment  was  a 
favorite  object  with  Mrs.  Judson  ; and,  except  at  Ran- 
goon, no  station  has  been  formed  where  there  was  not 
a school  in  connexion. 

At  Ava,  Dr.  Price  instructed  the  young  princes. 
At  Amherst,  before  the  station  was  relinquished,  a fe- 
male school  had  already  begun  to  diffuse  light  and  ho- 
liness. And  it  was  in  Mrs.  Wade’s  female  school  at 
Maulmein,  that  the  first  openings  were  visible  of  that 
revival,  which  resulted  in  the  addition  of  many  redeem- 
ed sinners  to  the  church  of  God. 

Although  the  early  circumstances  of  the  mission 
prevented  the  establishment  of  a school  at  Rangoon, 
at  the  beginning,  yet  an  attempt  has  been  made.  In 
August,  1831,  Mr.  Jones  took  preparatory  measures 
for  the  instruction  of  children  born  in  the  country,, 
whether  wholly  or  partially  of  Burman  descent.  Re- 
ligion was  regarded  as  a prime  object  in  the  system 
of  instruction,  and  much  interest  was  taken  both  by 
the  missionaries  and  the  parents  of  the  children,  in  the 
two  schools  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones.  On  their  depart- 
ure for  Siam,  the  schools  fell  into  the  hands  of  Mr. 
Kincaid  ; and  we  grieve  to  say,  that  a letter,  dated  July 
27,  1832,  brings  information  that  they  had  been  bro- 
ken up  by  the  command  of  the  viceroy.  Knowledge, 
however,  is  the  possession  of  the  mind;  and  when  it 
is  once  implanted,  man  cannot  take  it  away.  The  ac- 
quisitions of  these  few  months,  carried  into  all  the 
walks  of  life  and  distributed  through  the  country,  we 
trust,  will  prove  to  be  the  good  seed  of  the  kingdom, 
springing  up  hereafter,  and  bearing  fruit,  an  hundred 

fold. 


BURMAN  MISSION. 


29 


The  schools  for  children  at  Maulmein,  taught  chief- 
ly by  the  missionaries’  wives,  are  increasingly  in- 
teresting as  means  of  doing  good.  The  Karen  school 
established  above  Maulmein,  on  the  river,  is  taught  by 
Moung-Doot,  and  as  he  and  his  wife  are  both  pious, 
they  may  be  expected  to  exert  the  best  influence,  not 
only  on  the  children,  but  on  the  parents. 

There  is  a school  for  adults  at  Maulmein,  containing 
twenty  pupils,  under  the  instruction  of  Moung  Tsan- 
loon.  In  a late  excursion  among  the  Karens  contiguous 
to  that  place,  Mr.  Judson  selected  three  interesting 
young  men  to  enter  the  school,  designing  to  qualify 
them  to  read  and  interpret  the  Scriptures  to  their 
countrymen.  Through  their  influence,  the  light  of 
knpwledge  will  be  carried  into  the  Karen  wilds,  and 
the  Christians,  it  is  hoped,  will  thus  be  enabled  to  ad- 
vance the  more  rapidly  in  holy  attainments. 

The  schools  at  Tavoy  are  more  interesting  and  suc- 
cessful. In  a letter  from  Mrs.  Boardman,  dated  in 
January,  1832,  she  says  : “On  our  removal  to  Maul- 
mein in  1830,  our  day  schools  in  Tavoy  were  en- 
tirely broken  up  ; and  it  was  not  till  last  April,  that  I 
found  myself  sufficiently  at  leisure  to  attempt  anything 
in  that  way  again.  I then  opened  a school  with  five 
scholars,  under  the  care  of  a respectable  and  intelli- 
gent Tavoy  female.  We  met  with  much  encourage- 
ment, so  that  other  schools  have  been  since  established, 
and  our  number  of  day  scholars  is  now  about  eighty  ; 
which,  with  the  boarding-schools,  two  village-schools, 
and  about  fifty  persons  who  learn  during  the  rainy 
season,  in  the  Karen  jungle,  make  upwards  of  one 
hundred  and  seventy  under  our  instruction.  The 
scholars  in  the  jungle,  of  course,  cannot  come  to  us 
often  ; but  a great  many  have  been  in  to  be  examined 
in  their  lessons,  and  we  are  surprised  and  delighted  at 
the  progress  they  have  made. 

“The  children  of  the  day  schools  in  town,  and  some 
of  the  teachers,  attend  worship  on  Lord’s  day.  About 
forty  can  repeat  Mrs.  Judson’s  catechism,  and  some 
have  added  to  that  the  account  of  the  ‘ creation,* 
the  ‘prodigal  son,’  the  ‘rich  man  and  Lazarus,’  and 
part  of  the  ‘sermon  on  the  mount.’  The  little  girls, 
3* 


30 


BRIEF  HISTORY  OF  THE 


about  forty  in  number  have  many  of  them  made  good 
progress  in  needle-work.  But  what  gives  me  far 
greater  pleasure,  is  the  interest  with  which  they  listen 
to  religious  instruction,  and  the  affectionate,  docile  dis- 
position they  manifest.  They  are  very  much  ridiculed 
for  studying  the  Christian  books  ; but  they  bear  it  pa- 
tiently. One  little  boy,  eleven  years  old,  in  the  boarding- 
school,  has  committed  to  memory  800  verses  of  Scrip- 
ture, besides  a short  compendium  of  astronomy, 
geography,  and  chronology. 

“One  of  the  female  schools,  containing  eleven  scho- 
lars, is  extremely  interesting.  Five  of  the  scholars 
are  members  of  the  church ; two  have  asked  for  bap- 
tism, and  one  of  the  remaining  four  is  a very  hopeful 
inquirer.  They  attend  worship  in  Burman  every 
morning  and  evening,  and  the  female  prayer  meeting 
Wednesday  forenoon.”  The  same  letter  says,  “I 
have  no  doubt  that  village-schools  could  be  establish- 
ed with  ease  throughout  the  province,  if  some  person 
acquainted  with  the  language  and  manners  and  cha- 
racter of  the  Tavoyans,  could  devote  all  his  time  to  the 
object.  We  have  had  two  applications  from  villages  a 
few  miles  distant,  and  have  established  one  school  with 
twelve  scholars.  'More  than  ten  children  in  another 
village  are  waiting,  ready  to  enter  as  soon  as  the 
school-house  is  finished.  We  have  now  seven  schools  in 
operation,  besides  the  two  on  our  premises,  and  those 
in  the  Karen  jungle.  The  Karens  throughout  the 
province,  believers  and  unbelievers,  are  exceedingly, 
anxious  to  have  their  children  taught  to  read.  ” 

VILLAGE  PREACHING. 

This  has  been  pursued  with  very  encouraging  suc- 
cess. The  evidence  which  it  gives  of  the  spirit  of 
inquiry  throughout  the  country,  and  the  zeal  of  the 
people  to  hear  of  the  religion  of  Christ,  is  most  grati- 
fying to  the  minds  of  the  missionaries.  The  first  ex- 
cursion of  this  kind  was  made  by  Mr.  Boardman 
around  Tavoy.  Similar  ones  have  since  been  made 
by  Mr.  Mason,  and  by  Mr.  Judson  around  Maulmein 
and  between  Rangoon  and  Prome.  They  go  with  two 
pr  three  converts  to  aid  them  in  the  work,  and  pro 


BURMAN  MISSION. 


31 


vide  themselves  with  large  quantities  of  tracts.  At 
every  village  where  the  people  will  listen,  they  stop 
and  preach  ; give  tracts  to  those  who  will  receive 
them — in  some  instances  at  every  house — and,  if  cir- 
cumstances seem  to  require  it,  they  prolong  their 
stay,  or  leave  one  of  the  native  converts  for  a while, 
to  instruct  them  more  fully.  In  some  cases,  the 
whole  village  has  come  to  hear,  and  many  have  been 
brought  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth.  The  follow- 
ing, from  Mr.  Mason’s  journal,  is  a specimen  of  the 
encouragement  met  with  during  these  tours.  “ Before 
sunrise  this  morning  I received  a visit  from  the  chief 
of  a neighboring  village,  who  introduced  himself  with 
a present,  and  said,  he  came  to  request  books  for  his 
village,  and  to  show  me  the  way  there. 

While  putting  up  tracts,  he  was  careful  to  observe, 
‘ There  are  many  houses  in  my  village.’  He  went 
round  with  me  to  every  house,  and  exhorted  the  peo- 
ple to  examine  the  books,  and  consider  the  doctrines 
therein  taught. 

Besides  the  tracts  thus  distributed,  many  from  dis- 
tant regions  receive  them  at  the  missionary  stations, 
and  carry  them  to  every  part  qf  the  country.  Some 
interesting  cases  of  conversion  have  occurred,  of  per- 
sons whose  attention  was  first  excited  by  tracts,  found 
far  in  the  interior.  The  following  case,  which  came 
to  the  knowledge  of  Mr.  Judson,  deserves  notice.  “A 
man  and  wife  near  the  head  of  the  Pa-tah  river, 
though  not  baptized,  and  never  seen  by  any  foreign 
missionary , both  died  in  the  faith  ; the  man  enjoining 
it  on  his  surviving  friends  to  have  the  ‘View  of  the 
Christian  Religion,’  laid  on  his  breast  and  buried 
with  him.” 

In  the  first  part  of  the  year  1832,  Mr.  Judson  made 
two  excursions  among  the  Karen  villages,  and  his  vis- 
its were  every  where  sought  with  interest.  On  the  1 1th 
of  March,  1832,  while  passing  up  the  river,  he  fell  in 
company  with  a boat  full  of  men  ; and  when  he  in- 
quired whether  they  wished  to  hear  the  gospel  of 
Christ,  an  elderly  man,  the  chief  of  the  party,  replied, 
that  he  had  already  heard  much  of  the  gospel,  and 
there  was  nothing  he  desired  so  much  as  an  interview 


32 


BtUEF  HISTORY  OF  THE 


■with  the  teacher.  “We  accordingly  went  to  the  shore,” 
says  Mr.  Judson,  “and  spent  several  hours  very  de- 
lightfully under  the  shade  of  the  overhanging  trees, 
and  the  banner  of  the  love  of  Jesus.  The  old  man’s 
experience  was  so  clear,  and  his  desire  for  baptism 
so  strong,  that  though  circumstances  prevented  our 
gaining  so  much  testimony  of  his  conduct  since  be- 
lieving, as  we  usually  required,  we  felt  that  it  would 
be  wrong  to  refuse  his  request.  After  the  ordinance, 
he  went  on  his  way  rejoicing  aloud,  and  declaring  his 
resolution  to  make  known  the  eternal  God,  and  the 
dying  love  of  Jesus,  on  all  the  banks  of  the  Yoon-zalen, 
his  native  stream.”  “The  dying  words  of  an  aged 
man  of  God,”  continues  Mr.  Judson,  “when  he 
waived  his  withered,  death-struck  arm  and  exclaimed 
‘ the  best  of  all  is,  God  is  with  vs’ — I feel  in  my  very 
soul. — Yes,  the  Greatlnvisible  is  in  these  Karen  wilds. 
That  mighty  Being,  who  heaped  up  these  rocks,  and 
reared  these  stupendous  mountains,  and  poured  out 
these  streams  in  all  directions,  and  scattered  immor- 
tal beings  throughout  these  deserts, — he  is  present  by 
the  influence  of  his  Holy  Spirit,  and  accompanies  the 
sound  of  the  gospel  with  converting,  sanctifying  pow- 
er.” 

PRINTING. 

On  the  arrival  at  Calcutta  of  Mr.  Hough,  who  was 
a printer  as  well  as  minister,  the  Serampore  brethren 
presented  our  mission  with  a press  and  types.  This 
department  of  labor,  however,  began  to  assume  a 
more  vigorous  and  encouraging  character,  on  the  ac- 
cession to  the  mission  of  Mr.  Bennett,  in  1830.  He 
has  been  incessantly  occupied  in  printing  tracts  and 
portions  of  the  Scriptures,  till  the  present  time. 
Messrs.  Cutter  and  Hancock  have  since  been  added  to 
this  department,  and  four  presses  are  now  at  work. 
The  translation  of  the  New  Testament  is  complet- 
ed, and  the  whole  of  it  is  now  in  circulation.'  Twen- 
ty other  works  have  also  been  prepared  by  the 
brethren — all  but  one  of  which — the  Burman  Gram- 
mar— are  designed  for  circulation  in  the  country. 
Since  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Bennett,  it  is  estimated  that 
he  has  published  at  least  250,000  tracts,  which  can  be 


BURMAN  MISSION. 


33 


issued  at  the  rate  of  eight  octavo  pages  for  a cent. 
In  addition  to  the  tracts,  a letter  from  Mr.  Bennett, 
dated  December  19th,  1832,  says,  I am  happy  to  say 
that  the  New  Testament  is  now  out  of  press.  It 
makes  a volume  of  624  octavo  pages,  and  has  been 
printed  in  eight  months  and  twenty-eight  days  from 
the  commencement  of  the  composition  to  the  close  of 
the  presswork.  Three  thousand  copies  have  been 
printed — so  that  the  number  of  pages  is  1, 872,000 !! 
— The  whole  number  of  pages  printed  since  my  re- 
turn from  Bengal  on  the  15th  of  March  last,  is 
2,388,000.  The  number  of  Tracts  30,000 — and  a Spell- 
ing Book  of  thirty-six  pages  in  the  Karen  language, 
3,000  copies.  The  characters  for  the  latter  are  like 
the  Burman  except  six  or  eight,  and  we  make  the 
Burman  fonts  answer  for  both  as  far  as  they  will.  I 
am  now  engaged  in  book-binding,  as  the  Testament 
is  out,  and  we  wish  as  soon  as  possible  to  furnish  the 
native  Christians  with  a copy.  There  is  no  room 
here  to  be  idle. 

REMARKS. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones  left  the  Burman  mission  to 
establish  a new  station  at  Siam,  at  the  close  of 
September,  1832.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wade  returned  to 
America,  in  consequence  of  the  state  of  his  health, 
and  arrived  in  May,  1833.  They  were  accompanied 
by  two  native  converts,  a Burman  and  Karen.  After 
a year’s  residence  in  this  country,  they  are  hoping, 
with  fresh  vigor  and  a large  reinforcement  of  mis- 
sionaries, to  return  to  the  scene  of  their  toils. 

The  whole  number  of  American  missionaries  now 
in  Burmah  is  eighteen. 

There  are  also  in  the  service  of  the  mission  two 
native  preachers,  and  several  native  assistants,  who 
serve  as  school-teachers,  tract-distributors,  &c. 

The  amount  of  success  which  God  has  given  to  the 
mission,  has  been  steadily  increasing. 

FUTURE  EFFORTS. 

The  increasing  amount  of  missionary  exertion  will 
increase  the  amount  of  expense.  The  addition  of 
laborers  to  the  different  fields,  has  drawn  largely  on 
the  treasury  ; and  their  future  support  will,  of  course, 
require  an  augmentation  of  liberality  on  the  part  of. 


BRIEF  HISTORY  OF  THE 


G4 

the  churches.  An  appeal  for  that  augmentation,  we 
trust,  will  not  be  in  vain.  For  we  rejoice  to  believe 
that  the  Christian  community  are  ready  to  bestow  of 
their  abundance,  to  promote  the  cause  of  the  Re- 
deemer. 

While  we  look  with  pleasure  on  the  evidence  that 
we  have  not  labored  in  vain,  manifested  in  the  pre- 
ceding pages,  let  us  remember  how  much  remains  to 
be  done.  Supposing  a generation  of, men  to  continue 
thirty  years,  s^nce  our  mission  commenced  in  Burmah, 
two-thirds  of  her  eight  millions  (the  lowest  estimate) 
have  gone  to  the  awards  of  eternity.  And  how  few 
of  them  have  heard  the  name  of  Jesus!  A few — a 
precious  few — have  joined  the  hosts  of  the  redeemed. 
But  where  are  the  remainder  ? 

DUTY  OF  THE  BAPTIST  DENOMINATION. 

In  view  of  these  facts,  two  things  are  required  of 
us.  I.  A spirit  of  self-denial.  This  must  exhibit  it- 
self in  a willingness  to  contribute,  to  the  extent  of 
our  means,  for  the  sustentation  of  the  cause.  Let  us 
not  give  the  trifles  which  we  shall  not  feel  •,  but  let 
us  offer  to  the  Lord  an  oblation  worthy  of  our  grati- 
tude as  Christians,  and  worthy  of  our  professions  as 
pitying  the  souls  of  men. 

There  are  some,  too,  among  our  churches,  who  must 
offer  themselves  to  God.  A band  of  four  thousand  mis- 
sionaries would  be  far  more  worthy  of  our  churches, 
than  the  little  company  of  four  thousand  who  now  bear 
the  heat  and  burden  of  the  day.  Let  ministers  seek  out 
in  their  churches,  and  encourage  suitable  missionaries. 
Let  not  parents  and  friends  kill  their  ardent  feelings, 
and  quench  their  missionary  spirit.  Send  them,  if 
they  will  go.  Resign  them  to  the  work  to  which 
their  heavenly  Father  has  called  them,  and  in  which 
you  feel  so  high  an  interest.  And  let  the  young  men 
break  away  from  the  endearments  of  home  and  na- 
tive soil ; resist  the  obstructions  in  their  way,  and 
enter  on  the  apostolic  work  of  saving  souls. 

2.  The  church  must  cultivate  a spirit  of  prayer. 
This,  and  the  spirit  of  missions,  have  a reciprocal 
influence.  Pray  much  for  the  heathen,  and  a missiona- 
ry spirit  wakes  up,  of  course.  We  cannot  look  for 
the  conversion  of  the  world,  till  there  is  more  of  fer- 


BURMAN  MISSION 


35 


'vent  piety,  more  of  deep,  absorbing  devotion,  more 
love  of  communion  with"  heaven  among  us.  We  must 
return  to  primitive  piety,  and  then  we  shall  have 
primitive  success.  Prayer  must  become  the  very 
atmosphere,  breathed  by  the  church  ; and  holiness 
must  be  stamped  upon  the  lines  of  every  counte- 
nance.— “Arise,  O Lord,  into  thy  rest,  thou,  and  the 
ark  of  thy  strength.” 

MISSIONARIES. 

The  following  table  contains  the  names  of  all  the 
missionaries  sent  to  the  Burman  Empire  by  the  Bap- 
tist Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  with  the  date  of  their 
arrival  there,  &c. 


Missionaries. 

Arrival. 

Adoniram  Judson 

luly,  1813 

Mrs.  Ann  H.  Judson 

“ “ 

George  H.  Hough 

Oct.  1816 

Mrs.  Hough 

a tt 

EdW.  W.  Wheelock 

Sept.  1818  1 

Mrs.  Wheelock 

“ “ 

James  Colman 

ii  ii 

Mrs.  Colman 

“ “ 

Jonathan  D.  Price 

Dec.  1821 

Mrs.  Price 

it  tt 

Jonathan  Wade 

Dec.  1823 

Mrs.  D.  B.  J,.  Wade 

ii  it 

Geo.  D.  Boardman 

April, 1827 

Mrs.  S.H.Boardman 

ii  it 

Cephas  Bennett 

Jan.  1830 

Mrs.  S.  Bennett 

it  ii 

Eugenio  Kincaid 

Nov.  1830 

Mrs.  Kincaid 

U ii 

Francis  Mason 

it  a 

Mrs.  H.  M.  Mason 

a a 

John  Taylor  Jones 

Feb.  1831 

Mrs.  Eliza  G.  Jones 

ii  ii 

Oliver  T.  Cutter 

Dec.  1831 

Mrs.  N.  B.  Cutter 

<1  it 

Thomas  Simons 

an.  1833 

Royal  B.  Hancock 

ii  ii 

Mrs.  A.  S.  Hancock 

ii  it 

Miss  S.  Cummings 

ii  ii 

Nathan  Brown 

June,  1833 

Mrs.  E.  W.  Brown 

ii  ii 

Abner  Webb 

ci  a 

Miss  C.  S.  W.  Webb 

a a 

MissC.J.Harrington 

a a 

Remarks. 


At  Maulmein. 

ii  ii 

Died  near  Tavoy,  Feb.  1831. 

At  Tavoy. 

At  Maulmein,  preacher  and  printer. 

U ii 

At  Rangoon. 

Died  at  Maulmein,  Dec.  19,  1831. 
At  Tavoy. 

At  Bank  ok,  Siam. 


At  Maulmein,  printer. 


printer  and  stereotyper, 
teacher. 


36 


BRIE!'  history  of  the 


The  following'  table  exhibits  the  number  baptized 
in  Burmah  from  the  beginning. — Of  these,  eleven 
have  been  excluded,  and  eleven  have  died  in  the  faith. 


Year- 


Place. 


Natives. 


Foreign. 


Total. 


ism 
1820  ( 
1821 

1822 J 

1823 

1824 

1825 

1826 

1827 

1828 
1829A 

1830  [ 

1831  f 
1832 J 


Rangoon, 


Enmah, 

A mherst, 

Maulmein  and  Tavoy, 

Rangoon,  Maulmein, 
Tavoy,  and  Mergui, 
about 


3 

7 

3 

5 

None. 

War. 

3 

1 

29 

39 

42 

148 

170 


4 

12 

8 

89 

11 


3 

7 

3 

5 


3 

1 

33 

51 

50 

237 

181 


450 


124 


674 


RECAPITULATION  AND  COMPARATIVE  VIEW. 

The  American  Baptist  Mission  in  Burmah  com- 
menced in  the  year  1813.  In  the  twenty  years  which 
have  elapsed,  there  have  been  sent  thirty-three  mission- 
aries, male  and  female,  to  that  country,  under  the 
patronage  of  the  Board.  Of  these,  fifteen  have  been 
removed  by  death,  or  otherwise,  from  the  field  of  their 
labors ; and  eighteen  are  now  on  the  ground.  Nine — 
more  than  a quarter  of  the  whole  number — sailed  in 
the  course  of  the  year  1832.  The  first  baptism  in 
Burmah  occurred  in  1819,  when  three  natives  were 
admitted  to  the  church.  Since  that  time,  about  four 
hundred  and  fifty  have  chosen  the  se/vice  of  God,  and 
joined  the  churches  at  Rangoon,  Tavoy,  Maulmein, 
and  Mergui.  Four  presses  and  three  printers  have 
been  sent  out.  About  250,000  tracts  have  been  print- 
ed, and  circulated  throughout  the  whole  empire.  The 
New  Testament  is  translated  and  printed,  and  an 
epitome  of  the  Old.  A large  number  of  children 
have  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  Christian  schools. 
Villages  have  been  visited,  and  many  in  them  have  be- 
lieved in  Jesus.  The  Karens  and  the  Toung-thoos 
have  heard  the  word  of  life,  and  multitudes  of  the 
former  have  become  the  disciples  of  Christ.  " 


tion  ? It  would  open  the  Way  to  other  neighboring 
tions,  not  even  mentioned  in  foreign  geographies,  and  even 
to  the  borders  of  China  and  Tartary.  Between  Maulmein 
and  Zen-mai  are  various  tribes  of  Karens,  Toung-thoos, 
Lah-wahs,  &c.  The  former  are  literally  crying  out  aloud 
for  a written  language,  that  they  may  read  in  their  own 
tongue  the  wonderful  works  of  God.  From  the  banks  of 
the  Yoon-Za-len,  on  the  north  west,  the  celebrated  prophet 
of  the  Karens  has  repeatedly  sent  down  messages  and 
presents  to  Us,  begging  that  we  would  come  and  instruct 
his  people  in  the  Christian  religion.  But  how  can  we  think 
of  supplying  that  quarter,  when  the  old  kingdom  of  Arra- 
can,  now  under  British  rule,  and  speaking  the  same  lan- 
guage with  the  Burmese,  is  crying,  in  the  whole  length 
and  breadth  of  her  coast,  for  some  one  to  come  to  her  res- 
cue.  In  that  country  are  one  or  two  hundred  converts, 
and  one  country-born  missionary,  from  the  Serampore 
connexion,  who  is  laboring  without  any  prospect  of  rein- 
forcement  from  Bengal,  and  desirous  that  one  of  us  should 
join  him.  Kyouk-pyoo,  lately  established  by  the  English, 
is  esteemed  a healthy  place.  The  commandant  is  disposed 
to  welcome  a missionary,  and  afford  him  every  facility. 
Our  hearts  bleed  when  we  think  of  Kyouk-pyoo  and  the 
poor  inquirers  that  one  of  our  number  lately  left  there, 
ready  to  embrace  the  Christian  religion,  if  he  would  only 
promise  to  remain  or  send  a successor.  From  Kyouk- 
pyoo,  the  way  is  open  into  the  four  provinces  of  Arracan, 
namely,  Rek-keing,  Cheduba,  Ram-ree  and  Sandoway— 
and  what  a grand  field  for  our  tracts  and  the  New  Testa- 
ment now  in  the  pi’ess  ? Of  all  the  places  that  now  cry 
around  us,  we  think  that  Kyouk-pyoo  cries  the  loudest — 
No— we  listen  again,  and  the  shrill  cry  of  golden  Ava 
rises  above  them  all.  O Ava ! Ava ! with  thy  metropolis 
tan  walls  and  gilded  turrets,  thou  sittest  a lady  among 
these  eastern  nations ; but  our  hearts  bleed  for  thee.  In 
thee  is  no  Christian  church,  no  missionary  of  the  cross  ! 

O God  of  mercy,  have  mercy  on  Ava,  and  Chageing 
and  Amarapoora.  Have  mercy  on  Pah-gan  and  Prome, 
(poor  Prome !)  on  Toung-oo,  on  the  port  of  Bassein,  and 
on  all  the  towns  between  Ava  and  Rangoon.  Have  rner-, 
cy  on  old  Pegu,  and  the  surrounding  district.  Have  mercy 
on  the  four  provinces  of  Arracan.  Have  mercy  on  the 
inhabitants  of  the  banks  of  the  Yoon-Za-len,  the  Sal-wen, 
the  Thoung-Yen  and  the  Gyeing.  Have  mercy  on  all  the 
Karens,  the  Toung-thoos,  the  Lah-wahs  and.  other  tribes 
3 


40  pages.] 

whose  names,  though  unkhoWn  in  Christian  lands,  are 
known  to  thee.  Have  mercy  on  Zen-mai,  on  Lah-hong, 
Myeing-yoon-gyee  and  Yah-heing.  Have  mercy  on  Ban- 
kok  and  the  kingdom  of  Siam,  and  all  the  other  princi- 
palities that  lie  on  the  north  and  east.  Have  mercy  on 
poor  little  Mergui,  and  Pah-lan,  and  Yay,  and  Lah-meing, 
and  Nah-zaroo,  and  Amherst,  and  the  island  of  Bee-loo, 
with  its  villages  of  Talcings  and  Karens.  Have  mercy 
on  our  mission  stations  at  Tavoy,  Maulmein  and  Rangoon, 
and  our  sub-stations  at  Mergui,  Chummerah  and  New- 
ville.  Pour  out  thine  Holy  Spirit  upon  us  and  our  assist- 
ants, upon  our  infant  churches  and  our  schools.  Aid  us 
in  the  solemn  and  laborious  work  of  translating  and  print- 
ing thine  holy,  inspired  word,  in  the  language  of  these 
heathen.  Oh,  keep  our  faith  from  failing,  our  spirits  from 
sinking,  and  our  mortal  frame  from  giving  way  prema- 
turely, under  the  influence  of  the  climate  and  the  pressure 
of  our  labors.  Have  mercy  on  the  Board  of  Missions, 
and  grant  that  our  beloved  and  respected  fathers  and  breth-  .«• 
ren  may  be  aroused  to  greater  efforts,  and  go  forth  per- 
sonally into  all  parts  of  the  land,  and  put  in  requisition  all 
the  energies  of  thy  people.  Have  mercy  on  the  churches 
ip  the  United  States ; hoid  back  the  curse  of  Meroz ; con- 
tinue and  perpetuate  the  heavenly  revivals  of  religion 
which  they  have  begun  to  enjoy ; and  may  the  time  soon 
come  when  no  church  shall  dare  to  sit  under  Sabbath  and 
sanctuary  privileges,  without  having  one  of  their  number 
to  represent  them  on  heathen  ground.  Have  mercy  on 
the  theological  seminaries,  and  hasten  the  time  when  one 
half  of  all  who  yearly  enter  the  ministry  shall  be  taken 
by  thine  Holy  Spirit,  and  driven  into  the  wilderness,  feel- 
ing a sweet  necessity  laid  upon  them,  and  the  precious 
love  of  Christ'  and  souls  constraining  them.  Hear,  O 
Lord,  all  the  prayers  which  are  this  day  presented,  in  all, 
the  monthly  concerts  throughout  the  habitable  globe,  and' 
hasten  the  millenial  glory,  for  which  we  are  all  longing, 
and  praying,  and  laboring.  Adorn  thy  beloved  one  in 
her  bridal  vestments,  that  she  may  shine  forth  in  immacu- 
late beauty  and  celestial  splendor.  Come,  0 our  Bride- 


groom ! • Come,  Lord  Jesus,  come 
amen. 


C.  Bennett, 
Oliver  T.  Cutter, 
Jno,  Taylor  Jones, 


A.  Judson. 
J.  Wade. 


¥ 


4 


